Four-electron oxygen reduction from mesoporous carbon modified with Fe2O3 nanocrystals

Abstract

Synthesis and characterization of a cost-effective electrocatalyst for oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) are attempted for sustainable development in energy storage protocol. Ordered mesoporous carbon (OMC) has emerged as a promising candidate for such purposes, particularly in alkaline conditions. However, the scarceness of active sites is responsible for considerably lower catalytic performance of OMC. Herein, we report a new facile route to synthesize α-Fe2O3 nanoparticles supported on ordered mesoporous carbons forming a new hybrid ORR catalyst. This catalyst displayed excellent catalytic properties, long-term stability and impressive methanol tolerance.