Nitrogen-doped carbon shell structure derived from natural leaves as a potential catalyst for oxygen reduction reaction

Under N2 atmosphere at 800 °C, fallen gingko leaves is deliberately transformed into nitrogen-doped fullerene-like carbon shell, which can catalyze a four-electron transfer process for oxygen reduction reaction with a much higher electrocatalytic activity, lower overpotential, smaller crossover effect, and better long-term operation stability than that of commercially available or similar platinum-based electrodes in alkaline electrolyte.221