Highly dispersed Co nanoparticles inlayed in S, N-doped hierarchical carbon nanoprisms derived from Co-MOFs as efficient electrocatalysts for oxygen reduction reaction

Abstract

Making efficient non-precious metal catalysts for oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) is very important to bring energy conversion and storage systems into realities. Herein, we design and prepare a highly active catalyst by using cobalt metal-organic frameworks (Co-MOFs) as precursor. In consequence, the obtained 1D Co@SN-CNP (Co@S,N-doped carbon nanoprisms) by pyrolysis of Co-MOFs at 700 °C possesses similar ORR activity but superior durability to the commercial 20 wt% Pt/C in 0.1 M KOH solution. The high catalytic performance could be attributed to the special nanostructure composed of cobalt nanoparticles encapsulated in S, N co-doped carbon prisms, which integrate the advantages of 1D nanostructures, encapsulated cobalt nanoparticles and S, N Co-doped carbon materials towards ORR. The present work will provide a new strategy for the development of S, N co-doped carbon-based materials with tunable non-precious metal species for electrocatalysis.