Step-by-Step Synthesis of Non-Noble Metal Electrocatalysts for O2 Reduction under Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cell Conditions

Fe-based catalysts for O2 reduction under proton exchange membrane fuel cell conditions were prepared on a commercial N234 carbon black support using both a “classical” and a step-by-step procedure to determine if parameters other than microporosity and nitrogen loading of the carbon support are important in the synthesis of Fe/N/C electrocatalysts. The “classical” procedure for obtaining Fe/N/C electrocatalysts is to use a single-step synthesis, in which a carbon support loaded with a metal precursor is heat treated at high temperatures (900−950 °C) in pure NH3. In the step-by-step procedure, microporosity is first etched into the carbon support followed, if necessary, by the addition of N-bearing functionalities and, last, the loading of the metal precursor. Similar maximum microporous contents can be etched into N234, using either NH3 or O2 (air). However, unlike O2 (air), etching with NH3 has the added benefit of creating N-bearing functionalities on the carbon surface. For carbon supports etched in O...

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