Abstract
Development of high-efficiency and low-cost nonprecious-metal-based electrocatalysts with high activity and stability for oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) is critical for large-scale application in energy conversion devices. A novel approach to fabricate hierarchically porous carbon encapsulated with CoPx nanoparticles and wired with carbon nanotubes (NC@CoPx/PyCNTs) was developed. An optimal sample of the NC@CoPx/PyCNTs-900 material displayed excellent electrocatalytic performance for ORR with onset and half-wave potentials of ∼0.92 V vs. RHE and 0.80 V vs. RHE in 0.1 M KOH, respectively, as well as a small Tafel slope of 85 mV/dec. It is noteworthy that the mass activity of NC@CoPx/PyCNTs was 9.8 times higher than commercial 20% Pt/C. In addition, NC@CoPx/PyCNTs exhibited remarkable long-term cycling stability and methanol tolerance, which were superior to commercially Pt/C catalyst. The interaction of the hierarchically porous carbon, CoPx nanoparticles, and carbon nanotubes in NC@CoPx/PyCNTs were observed. Moreover, good electron conductivity and high specific surface area also contributed to the enhanced ORR performance. This work is expected to open up new avenues for the rational design and development of low-cost and highly active ORR catalysts for energy technologies.
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