Pyridinic nitrogen-rich carbon nanocapsules from a bioinspired polydopamine derivative for highly efficient electrocatalytic oxygen reduction

Abstract

A bioinspired polydopamine derivative was prepared by self-polymerization of 6-(2-aminoethyl)-3-hydroxypyridin-2(1H)-one (AHPO) in an alkaline aqueous medium. It was used as a precursor to produce nanocapsules of pyridinic N-rich carbon with a desired N doping content by using silica nanoparticles as the template. These N-doped nanocapsules exhibited superior electrocatalytic activity and stability towards the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR), lending an attractive alternative to the Pt catalyst. This work provides an important insight into the rational designing of bioinspired polymers for the development of functional carbon materials with excellent properties.