Confined space reduced graphite oxide doped with sulfur as metal-free oxygen reduction catalyst

Reduced GO in confined space of silica gel nanopores doped with sulfur shows high catalytic activity for oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) in alkaline medium and exhibits a superior tolerance to the presence of methanol. Even though the partially reduced GO with hydroquinone structures is a good catalysts for ORR, it shows instability in KOH. The good performance of S-doped material is linked to the coexistence of sulfur and oxygen on the surface in equal atomic quantities and a unique porosity being the replica of the silica pores. The former leads to the positive charge on the carbon atoms, which are the reaction sites. Hydrophobicity of the surface and small pores enhance adsorption of O2.