Fe3C nanoparticle decorated Fe/N doped graphene for efficient oxygen reduction reaction electrocatalysis

Oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) electrocatalysts with high activity, low cost and good durability are crucial to promote the large-scale practical application of fuel cells. Particularly, iron carbide (Fe 3 C) supported on nitrogen-doped carbon has recently demonstrated compelling promise for ORR electrocatalysis . In this paper, we report the facile synthesis of mesoporous Fe/N-doped graphene with encapsulated Fe 3 C nanoparticles (Fe 3 C@Fe/N-graphene) and its superior ORR catalytic activity . This hybrid material was synthesized by the spontaneous oxidative polymerization of dopamine on graphene oxide (GO) sheets in the presence of iron ion , followed by thermal annealing in Argon (Ar) atmosphere. As-prepared material shows high ORR catalytic activity with overwhelming four-electron reduction pathway, long-term durability and high methanol tolerance in alkaline media . This work reports a facile method to synthesize promising ORR electrocatalysis with multiple components and hierarchical architecture, and may offer valuable insight into the underlying mechanism of Fe 3 C-boosted ORR activity of Fe/N doped carbon.