High performance Fe–N–C oxygen reduction electrocatalysts by solid-phase preparation of metal–organic frameworks

Abstract Iron-nitrogen-carbon (Fe–N–C) compounds have been regarded as efficient and non-precious metal electrocatalysts for oxygen reduction reaction (ORR). The environmentally friendly preparation of Fe–N–C electrocatalysts is desirable but still challenging. Here, several Fe–N–C catalysts incorporated by ZIF-8 has been simply prepared by solid state reaction method. Fe–N–C containing 2% mole percentage Fe electrocatalysts fired at 900 °C exhibited superior intrinsic activities in oxygen saturated-0.1 M KOH for ORR with half wave potential of 0.831 V (versus RHE), comparable with Pt/C from JM (0.838 V). It also exhibited higher stability than those of Pt–C in alkaline condition. The higher intrinsic ORR activity and remarkable stability can be due to the more dispersed Fe–N x active sites, which indicate that Fe–N–C by 2% mole percentage Fe electrocatalyst is an excellent alternative electrocatalyst for energy applications.