Single-step synthetic approach for boron-doped carbons as a non-precious catalyst for oxygen reduction in alkaline medium

A facile, cost-effective and single-step pyrolysis approach using a single precursor is introduced to fabricate boron-doped carbon (BDC) without using a template, solvent, or catalyst. BDC has the ability to reduce oxygen directly to water with four electrons in an alkaline medium and exhibits excellent stability as well as resistance to methanol oxidation and CO poisoning. BDC is a promising alternative to conventional Pt-based catalysts as a metal-free catalyst for oxygen reduction reaction in alkaline fuel cells.

► Facile solid-state pyrolysis is introduced to prepare boron-doped carbon (BDC).
► The solid-state pyrolysis is a single-step without catalyst, solvent and template.
► ORR performance of the BDC is improved as BC3 composition increases.
► The BDC shows great durability under continuous ORR and addition of methanol and CO.
► The BDC can be a potential electrocatalyst for the ORR in alkaline medium.