Graphitized and curved carbon nanochambers embedded with highly-dispersed cobalt moieties for oxygen reduction electrocatalysis

Designed synthesis of robust while earth-abundant carbon-based electrocatalysts for oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) is central for the wide spread application of renewable energy conversion technologies. Herein, graphitized and curved carbon nanochambers decorated with boron and nitrogen tailored highly-dispersed cobalt moieties (B,N-Co/GCCN) were developed via a feasible strategy combining room temperature crosslinking and in situ catalytic graphitization processes. The graphitized and curved carbon nanochambers enhanced the electron transfer and structural stability and tailored the electronic structure of metal active sites. Moreover, the in situ coupled amorphous carbon and cobalt-nitrogen/boron moieties represented catalytically active sites for catalyzing ORR. Notably, the selected B doping made the electron density of Co of B,N-Co/GCCN higher compared to N-Co/GCCN, promoting the adsorption and activation of oxygen molecule. Benefiting from this integrated structure, the B,N-Co/GHC exhibited high ORR activity comparable to commercial Pt/C catalyst, along with robust electrocatalytic stability with little change in half-wave potential after 5000 cycles. Impressively, a homemade zinc-air battery driven by B,N-Co/GHC showed higher discharging performance than the one driven by Pt/C, demonstrating promising application prospect.