A high-performance electrocatalyst for oxygen reduction based on reduced graphene oxide modified with oxide nanoparticles, nitrogen dopants, and possible metal-N-C sites

Abstract

Non-noble metal (NNM) electrocatalysts with performances comparable with or superior to Pt are highly desirable for fuel cells and metal-air batteries, but remain rare. Herein, we report a new NNM electrocatalyst derived from reduced graphene oxide (rGO), dual nitrogen-containing ligands, and iron and cobalt salts. Remarkably, the onset potential and half-wave potential (E_1/2) of the obtained electrocatalyst shifts 5 and −23 mV, respectively, relative to commercial Pt/C at a standard loading of 20 μg_pt cm⁻² toward an oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) in alkaline solutions. Additionally, the electrocatalyst is much better than the Pt/C in terms of durability and tolerance to methanol.