Metal-organic framework derived hierarchically porous nitrogen-doped carbon nanostructures as novel electrocatalyst for oxygen reduction reaction

•Isoreticular metal-organic frameworks were synthesized by simple solvothermal methods.•The hierarchically porous nitrogen-doped carbon materials were prepared through direct carbonization of metal-organic frameworks.•The obtained electrocatalyst exhibited excellent activity for oxygen reduction reaction.

The hierarchically porous nitrogen-doped carbon materials, derived from nitrogen-containing isoreticular metal-organic framework-3 (IRMOF-3) through direct carbonization, exhibited excellent electrocatalytic activity in alkaline solution for oxygen reduction reaction (ORR). This high activity is attributed to the presence of high percentage of quaternary and pyridinic nitrogen, the high surface area as well as good conductivity. When IRMOF-3 was carbonized at 950 °C (CIRMOF-3-950), it showed four-electron reduction pathway for ORR and exhibited better stability (about 78.5% current density was maintained) than platinum/carbon (Pt/C) in the current durability test. In addition, CIRMOF-3-950 presented high selectivity to cathode reactions compared to commercial Pt/C.

Graphical abstractMOF-derived hierarchically porous nitrogen-doped carbon nanostructures were synthesized, which exhibited the enhanced electrochemical performance for oxygen reduction reaction.Figure optionsDownload full-size imageDownload as PowerPoint slide