Nitrogen-modified metal-organic framework-based carbon: An effective non-precious electrocatalyst for oxygen reduction reaction

Metal-organic framework (MOF) based composite materials have attracted significant research interest in the electrocatalytic field. In this study, a carbonized polypyrrole coated MOF composite electrocatalyst ([email protected]) is developed, which is a nitrogen-modified MOF-based carbon used as non-precious oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) electrocatalyst. Physical characterizations prove that the [email protected] electrocatalyst has high nitrogen doping (2.53 at.%) and effective graphite and pyridinium nitrogen doping (86.6%). When compared with commercial Pt/C, as-obtained [email protected] electrocatalyst shows good ORR performance (∆E1/2 = −22 mV) with good stability (87.8%) and methanol tolerance. All results indicate that MOF-based [email protected] electrocatalyst is an effective and promising electrocatalyst for ORR.