Silk‐Derived N‐Doped Fe@NPC as Efficient Bifunctional Electrocatalyst for Direct Methanol Fuel Cell (DMFC)

Abstract

AbstractThe development of economic and efficient bifunctional electrocatalysts, which can boost both the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) and methanol oxidation reaction (MOR) is quite necessary for the evolution of direct methanol fuel cell (DMFC). Herein, a novelty of precious metal‐free, iron, nitrogen and phosphorus‐doped porous carbon (Fe@NPC) was prepared by using cheap and renewable biomass silk as basic nitrogen sources, as an efficient ORR and MOR electrocatalyst with its high nitrogen content (8.16 wt%). The Fe@NPC catalyst exhibits extremely high onset potential (1.125 V vs RHE), current density (−6.089 mA cm−2) and methanol tolerance for ORR, even exceeds the corresponding values of Pt/C (1.007 V vs RHE, 5.068 mA cm−2). Furthermore, it also served as a good carrier for Pt nanoparticles (NPs). Pt/Fe@NPC shows high catalytic activity and stability for MOR in acidic condition.