Oxygen Reduction on Fe-N-C Electrocatalysts Derived from Deep Eutectic Solvents
摘要
The possibility of obtaining Fe-N-C and Fe,Co-N-C electrocatalysts for the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) by pyrolysis of Vulcan XC72R carbon black suspension in deep eutectic solvents (DESs) based on 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium chloride and iron(III) chloride, or a mixture of iron(III), cobalt(II), and zinc(II) chlorides, has been demonstrated. The influence of the DES type on the composition, structure, morphology, and electrocatalytic properties of the obtained materials has been found. It is established that the Fe-N-C catalyst obtained without the involvement of Co- or Zn-containing DES is the most effective in ORR and is characterized in an alkaline electrolyte by Eonset (964 mV vs. RHE) and E1/2 (891 mV vs. RHE) potentials, which exceed those of most analogues obtained using ionic liquids, ensures the ORR proceeds mainly by a 4-electron mechanism, and also does not require additional heat treatment to achieve high ORR characteristics.