Fe-N-C Oxygen Reduction Catalysts Supported on Burned-off Activated Carbon

摘要

Fe-N-C catalysts were prepared by impregnating FeCl_3 within two kinds of activated carbon (Kuraray GC and Nuchar) that had been previously bumed-off at 500℃ in air to vary their pore sizes in a controlled way. The impregnated samples were subsequently heated at 850℃ in NH_3. The average pore size of the samples was determined by small-angle X-Ray scattering (SAXS) measurements and quantified by the radius of gyration (R_g) of the pores. The catalytic activities of the samples vary with the pore size of the activated carbon, which depends on the burn-off time. The results support suggestions from the Dodelet group about the importance of the pore size in determining catalytic activity.