N-doped porous carbon nanosheets with embedded iron carbide nanoparticles for oxygen reduction reaction in acidic media

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By simple thermal treatment of low-cost precursors (melamine, FeSO4 and 1, 10-phenanthroline) in inert atmosphere, nitrogen-doped porous carbon nanosheets with embedded iron carbide nanoparticles were prepared (denoted as Fe3C@N-C-T). The catalyst prepared at 900 °C (Fe3C@N-C-900) is composed of mesoporous nitrogen-doping carbon nanosheets and graphitized carbon covered iron carbide nanoparticles (10–20 nm), with relatively high specific area (705 m2 g−1). As non-precious metal catalyst, Fe3C@N-C-900 exhibits highly efficient electrocatalytic activity (half-wave potential of 0.806 V and kinetic limiting current density (ik) of 18.35 mA cm−2 at 0.7 V) for oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) in acidic media, through an efficient four-electron ORR process. In addition, Fe3C@N-C-900 also displays better methanol tolerance and higher stability (only 12.5% loss after 20,000 s) in comparison to commercial Pt/C catalyst.