Engineering Short‐Range Ordered Mesoporous Carbon Toward Balanced Activity‐Stability in Oxygen Reduction

Abstract Developing stable and efficient non‐precious metal electrocatalysts for oxygen reduction is crucial for the high performance of metal‐air batteries, yet remains a significant challenge. Herein, a straightforward hydrothermal batch method is proposed for preparing ordered mesoporous N‐doped carbon spheres with particle sizes (<100 nm) embedded with small Fe 3 C nanoparticles (Fe 3 C@mC). Compared to traditional carbon‐based composites, the catalyst features short‐distance interpenetrating mesoporous channels that overcome the mass transfer limitations of conventional catalysts. Furthermore, the abundance of defect sites induced at the Fe 3 C‐carbon heterogeneous interface enhances the intrinsic activity of the catalyst. The Fe 3 C@mC exhibits a half‐wave potential of 0.89 V (vs Reversible Hydrogen Electrode) and current density of −6.31 mA cm −2 , apparently overmatching commercial Pt/C. Moreover, the activity retention rate remains at 93.2% after 1 00 000 cycles. This performance stems from the synergistic effect of the short‐distance interpenetrating mesoporous channels structure, Fe3C species, and carbon defect sites. The mesoporous structure and abundance of nitrogen‐rich sites present in the material facilitate the binding of metal nanoparticles to the carrier, thereby improving the overall stability of the material. It is the contention that this innovative and cost‐effective material holds significant promise for a wide range of applications.