Highly effective Fe–N–C electrocatalysts toward oxygen reduction reaction originated from 2,6-diaminopyridine

Fe–N–C electrocatalysts have been intensively studied due to their extraordinary catalytic activity toward oxygen reduction reaction (ORR). Here we prepare a electrocatalyst through cost-effective and nontoxic precursors of 2,6-diaminopyridine (DAP) FeCl3, where iron ions react with DAP formed Fe-Nx species first, followed by polymerization pyrolysis. X-ray diffraction patterns display no obvious Fe2O3 peaks observed in the catalyst as nominal content addition is less than 10 wt%. photoelectron spectroscopy spectra indicate that has rich pyridinic nitrogen, graphitic nitrogen species, which are considered active sites for ORR. Therefore demonstrates an excellent onset potential about 0.96 V, half-wave 0.84 limiting current density 5.8 mA cm−2, better commercial Pt/C alkaline medium. Furthermore its stability also much more Pt/C. This work provides strategy synthesize universal M–N–C catalysts.