Renewable and Metal-Free Carbon Derived from Aquatic Scindapsus Affording Meso–microporosity, Large Interface, and Enriched Pyridinic-N for Efficient Oxygen Reduction Reaction Catalysis

An efficient, renewable, and economic electrocatalyst for the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) is particularly important for next-generation fuel cells and metal–air batteries, and yet this remains a great challenge. In this contribution, we propose a facile and scalable route to the meso–microporous carbon with high specific surface area and enriched pyridinic nitrogen on the basis of direct carbonization of aquatic Scindapsus prior to ammonia injection. The metal-free catalyst proved to be an excellent electrocatalyst for the ORR in alkaline solutions, in terms of the onset potential and limited diffusion current density. It is comparable to a commercial Pt/C catalyst, arising from the large interface and heavy nitrogen doping. In addition to the robust stability against methanol poisoning and long-term operation, this carbonaceous catalyst provides a scalable and economic alternative choice for construction of high-performance ORR-based energy devices at a low cost, which may propel the applications of emerging green energy technologies.