Conductivity versus Active Sites in Metal-free Oxygen Reduction Reaction Electrocatalysis

摘要

The oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) plays a critical role in fuel cells and many other renewable energy systems. Metallic platinum and Pt-based alloys are so far considered as the best performing electrocatalysts. However, the high cost, limited access and poor stability largely hinders its application. Heteroatom-doped carbon materials have been recently considered as promising alternatives. Heteroatom-derived active sites and electrical conductivity are two important factors to determine the electrocatalytic activity in ORR.