The chemical identity, state and structure of catalytically active centers during the electrochemical CO reduction on porous Fe-nitrogen-carbon (Fe-N-C) materials.

We report novel structure-activity relationships and explore the chemical state and structure of catalytically active sites under conditions during the electrochemical CO reduction reaction (CORR) catalyzed by a series of porous iron-nitrogen-carbon (FeNC) catalysts. The FeNC catalysts were synthesized from different nitrogen precursors and, as a result of this, exhibited quite distinct physical properties, such as BET surface areas and distinct chemical N-functionalities in varying ratios. The chemical diversity of the FeNC catalysts was harnessed to set up correlations between the catalytic CORR activity and their chemical nitrogen-functionalities, which provided a deeper understanding between catalyst chemistry and function.

Impact of transition metal on nitrogen retention and activity of iron-nitrogen-carbon oxygen reduction catalysts.

Iron based nitrogen doped carbon (FeNC) catalysts are synthesized by high-pressure pyrolysis of carbon and melamine with varying amounts of iron acetate in a closed, constant-volume reactor. The optimum nominal amount of Fe (1.2 wt%) in FeNC catalysts is established through oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) polarization.