Electrospun Carbon Nanofibre‐Based Catalysts Prepared with Co and Fe Phthalocyanine for Oxygen Reduction in Acidic Medium

A Pt-free cathode catalyst is necessary for proton-exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC) to enable the widespread use of these environmentally friendly energy conversion devices at affordable price. Herein, a pyrolyzed electrospun carbon nanofibre (CNF) prepared embedded with cobalt(II) phthalocyanine and iron(II) compounds provide transition metal N4-macrocyclic complex-derived sites (MNX) possessing better electrocatalytic oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) activity. The physical characterisation showed nanofibrous structure rough surface texture considerable amount N, Fe, Co. D−MN4−CNF−IL−A using ionic liquid as porogen displayed best activity O2 electroreduction proceeding via 4e− pathway in 0.5 M H2SO4 electrolyte solution ORR onset half-wave potential 0.83 0.71 V vs reversible hydrogen electrode (RHE), respectively.