Nitrogen doped carbon nanotubes with encapsulated ferric carbide as excellent electrocatalyst for oxygen reduction reaction in acid and alkaline media

Fe3C nanoparticles coated by several clingy graphitic layers are encapsulated in the interior of N-doped carbon nanotubes (Fe3C@NCNTs), which exhibits superior oxygen reduction reaction activity and long-term stability in both acid and alkaline media. This study has revealed the growth mechanism of Fe3C@NCNTs, and unraveled the catalytic active sites and mechanism for ORR.280