ZnO-promoted dechlorination for hierarchically nanoporous carbon as superior oxygen reduction electrocatalyst

Abstract

The dechlorination of unconventional carbon source: polyvinyl dichloride (PVDC) by ZnO at the presence of melamine was used to prepare hierarchically Porous N-doped nanoCarbon (PDC). ZnO played the multirole of dechlorination agent, mesopore templates, and most importantly, ZnCl2 generation source. ZnCl2, at latter high temperature treatment, could promote carbonization and lead to hierarchical micro- and mesopore formation, which facilitated mass transportation for electrocatalytic oxygen reduction reaction (ORR). The 900°C-annealed PDC exhibited ultrahigh activity which comprehensively surpassed the commercially available 20wt% Pt/C.