Sulfur-containing carbon by flame synthesis as efficient metal-free electrocatalyst for oxygen reduction reaction

Sulfur-containing carbon soot is prepared for the first time through simple flame synthesis by burning flammable thiophene, and it exhibits excellent catalytic activity for oxygen reduction reaction in alkaline media. The flame synthesis provides not only a rapid single step low-cost approach, but also very efficient and scalable methodology for metal-free sulfur-containing carbons with good control on the sulfur content.

► Sulfur-containing carbon synthesis by rapid, simple, and scalable flame pyrolysis method ► Thiophene was served as a sulfur and carbon source. ► High temperature carbonization and post-preparative process-free synthesis. ► Exhibited excellent catalytic activity as catalyst for ORR in alkaline media