Facile synthesis of boron and nitrogen-doped graphene as efficient electrocatalyst for the oxygen reduction reaction in alkaline media

•B and N-doped graphene can be obtained by a facile thermal solid-state reaction.•The morphology, structure and doping level of graphene can be finely tuned.•The doped graphene shows excellent electrocatalytic oxygen reduction properties.

Boron-doped graphene and nitrogen-doped graphene have been respectively synthesized by a facile thermal solid-state reaction of graphene oxide with boric acid and urea. The morphology and structure of the doped graphene have been characterized by the scanning electron microscopy, infrared spectroscopy, ultraviolet visible spectroscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, while the electrocatalytic activity toward oxygen reduction reaction has been evaluated by the cyclic voltammetry. It has been shown that the morphology, structure, doping level and fashions of graphene could be finely tuned by the thermal treatment conditions, and which have substantial effects on the activity of oxygen reduction reaction. The boron-doped graphene and nitrogen-doped graphene calcined at 700 °C demonstrate excellent electrocatalytic oxygen reduction activities as the appropriate introduction of boron and nitrogen functional groups in graphene, which might be promising for low temperature fuel cell applications.