Atomic Fe−N−C Sites on Porous Carbon Nanostructures for Oxygen Reduction Reaction

Abstract Iron‐nitrogen‐carbon (Fe−N−C) materials are considered as promising oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) catalysts due to their high efficiency, low cost, and high tolerance of CO and methanol, with the potential to replace platinum (Pt) based catalysts. However, the complex synthesis procedure and toxic raw materials inhibit the large‐scale production of Fe−N−C catalysts. Herein, an atomic Fe−N−C catalyst, derived from biomass (pig blood) using a facile annealing process is reported. The prepared catalysts possess hierarchical porous structure and exhibit superior ORR efficiency with a high onset potential (E onset =0.999 V) and a half‐wave potential (E 1/2 =0.875 V), comparable with commercial Pt/C. The synthesized catalysts show excellent long‐term stability and tolerance to methanol. Moreover, Fe−N−C‐900 catalyst as cathode of Zn‐air battery exhibits high discharge voltage, high power density and cycling stability. Our work proposed the synthesis of Fe−N−C catalysts, using biomass as precursor. These prepared catalysts have great potential for further study and applications in energy.