Covalent triazine-based frameworks as efficient metal-free electrocatalysts for oxygen reduction reaction in alkaline media

• Covalent triazine-based frameworks were synthesized and used as an electrocatalyst.
• CTFs exhibited excellent catalytic activity for ORR catalysis.
• CTFs containing high nitrogen content is a promising material for ORR catalysis.

Covalent triazine-based frameworks (CTFs) were synthesized using an ionothermal method. The resultant CTFs were demonstrated as a metal-free electrocatalyst with superior electrocatalytic activity for oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) due to their high atomic percentage of pyridinic nitrogen, which is the most catalytically active site for ORR.