Exploring Fe‐N_<i>x</i> for Peroxide Reduction: Template‐Free Synthesis of Fe‐N_<i>x</i> Traumatized Mesoporous Carbon Nanotubes as an ORR Catalyst in Acidic and Alkaline Solutions

Abstract

Abstract Fe‐based electrocatalysts are elegant due to their better performance towards the oxygen reduction reaction. Nevertheless, they commonly contain different moieties, for example Fe‐N x , Fe, Fe 3 C and N‐doped carbon, primarily the debatable assistance of these components towards ORR electrocatalysis, specifically for intermediate peroxide reduction reactions (PRR). In this paper, to explore the role of Fe‐N x centres for PRR, a Fe‐N‐C electrocatalyst rooted in nitrogen‐doped carbon nanotubes with mesoporous structures was synthesized from a Fe/Zn‐dicyanoimidazolate framework. The use of dicyanoimidazole coordinated with iron can introduce the Fe‐N x active sites as well as directional N‐doped carbon nanotubes, which is good for enhancing electronic conductance of the catalyst. The attained electrocatalyst shows tremendous enactment to ORR, being comparable to the activity of Pt/C in acidic and better in alkaline electrolytes. This study also reveals that Fe‐N x active centres are responsible for less H 2 O 2 production. Though the Fe‐N x moieties and Fe 3 C/Fe particles encapsulated N‐doped carbon, both are active centres for ORR, however, Fe‐N x sites are more active than others for peroxide reduction reaction. These perceptions suggest rational methodologies for more active and consequently further durable Fe‐N‐C catalysts.