Tunable and convenient synthesis of highly dispersed Fe–N(x) catalysts from graphene-supported Zn–Fe-ZIF for efficient oxygen reduction in acidic media

The development of low-cost, efficient and stable electrocatalysts for the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) is desirable but remains a great challenge. We report a convenient and efficient synthesis approach of highly dispersed Fe–N(x) catalysts for ORR. Typically, Fe–Zn-ZIF (zeolitic imidazolate frameworks) nanocrystals cast as precursor and graphene as supports, highly dispersed Fe–N(x) species were fabricated with PVP (polyvinyl pyrrolidone) as surfactant via pyrolysis. With the help of graphene and surfactant, the agglomeration of iron particles has been avoided during pyrolysis, and the size and morphology of ZIF particles intercalating into the graphene layers can be regulated precisely as well. The amount of Fe–N(x) active sites in C-rGO-ZIF catalyst arrived 4.29%, which is obviously higher than most monodispersed non-precious metal catalysts reported. The obtained C-rGO-ZIF catalyst exhibits a high onset potential of 0.89 V and a half-wave potential of 0.77 V, which is only 30 mV away from Pt/C in acidic media. The active sites of the catalyst was characterized and found to be the highly dispersed Fe–N(x) species, large and accessible specific surface area of graphene and abundant active nitrogen atoms. When the C-rGO-ZIF catalyst was applied in the cathode of fuel cell, the power density can reach up to 301 mW cm(−2), which highlights a practical application potential on small power supplies.