One-pot synthesis of triazine-framework derived catalysts with high performance for polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells

The prohibitive cost and scarcity of the precious metals used for oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) catalysts limit the large-scale commercialization of proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs). Great efforts have been made to improve the ORR activity of non-precious metal catalysts. Herein, we describe a one-pot synthesis process of preparing triazine-polymer–Fe–C catalysts using polyimide (PI), ferric chloride and melamine as the precursors with a pronounced electrocatalytic activity towards ORR in acid media. The ORR activity of catalysts and the performance of single cells strongly depend on the properties of the carbon supports, which affect the surface areas and microporosities of the final catalysts. The optimized PI–Fe–C catalyst exhibits an excellent performance (onset potential of 0.92 V and the half-wave potential 0.78 V) towards ORR activity in acid medium. A maximum power density of 310 mW cm−2 is obtained with a loading of 2 mg cm−2 in a single cell.