摘要
As alternatives to Pt-based electrocatalysts, the development of nonprecious metal catalysts with high performance in the cathodic oxygen reduction reaction （ORR） is highly desirable for widespread use in fuel cells. Here we report a simple approach for preparing pentabasic （Fe, B, N, S, P）-doped reduced graphene oxide （rGO） via a two-step doping method of adding boric acid and ferric chloride to ternary （N, S, P）-doped rGO （NSPG）. Electro- chemical investigation of the composites for the ORR revealed that simultaneously doping appropriate amounts of Fe and B into the NSPG produced a synergistic effect that endowed the prepared catalyst with both a positively shifted ORR half-wave potential and high selectivity for the 4e^-reduction of O2. The optimized Fe2B-NSPG catalyst approached a 4e^- process for the ORR with a half-wave potential （E1/2=0.90 V vs. RHE） even 30 mV higher than that of the commercial Pt/C catalyst in alkaline solution. Furthermore, relative to the Pt/C catalyst, the Fe2B-NSPG demonstrated superior stability and excellent tolerance of the methanol cross-over effect. This simple method afforded pentabasic （Fe, B, N, S, P）-doped rGO as a promising nonpreeious metal catalyst used for alkaline fuel cells.
As alternatives to Pt-based electrocatalysts, the development of nonprecious metal catalysts with high performance in the cathodic oxygen reduction reaction （ORR） is highly desirable for widespread use in fuel cells. Here we report a simple approach for preparing pentabasic （Fe, B, N, S, P）-doped reduced graphene oxide （rGO） via a two-step doping method of adding boric acid and ferric chloride to ternary （N, S, P）-doped rGO （NSPG）. Electro- chemical investigation of the composites for the ORR revealed that simultaneously doping appropriate amounts of Fe and B into the NSPG produced a synergistic effect that endowed the prepared catalyst with both a positively shifted ORR half-wave potential and high selectivity for the 4e^-reduction of O2. The optimized Fe2B-NSPG catalyst approached a 4e^- process for the ORR with a half-wave potential （E1/2=0.90 V vs. RHE） even 30 mV higher than that of the commercial Pt/C catalyst in alkaline solution. Furthermore, relative to the Pt/C catalyst, the Fe2B-NSPG demonstrated superior stability and excellent tolerance of the methanol cross-over effect. This simple method afforded pentabasic （Fe, B, N, S, P）-doped rGO as a promising nonpreeious metal catalyst used for alkaline fuel cells.
