Oxygen reduction reaction mechanism of silk-derived activated carbon as a metal free non-platinum catalyst

研究了丝源活性炭（SAC）作为一种无金属、非铂催化剂。研究了氮种类和SAC表面积对氧还原反应活性的影响。SAC是通过蒸汽或二氧化碳碳化活化制备的。活化SAC后，类吡啶氮和类鹿蹄草氮减少，类石墨氮变化不大。用线性扫描伏安图（LSV）测定了对ORR的催化活性。激活处理使ORR活性增加。经中孔体积归一化处理的SAC的比ORR电流基本相等，说明ORR电流主要受中孔过程的控制。ORR的起效电位不受表面面积的影响，而受高温炭化过程中石墨样氮的影响。

Silk-derived activated carbon (SAC) was studied as a metal free, non-platinum catalyst. The effect of nitrogen species and surface area of SAC on oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) activity was studied. SAC was prepared by carbonized and activated by steam or carbon dioxide.By activating SAC, pyridine-like and pyrolle-like nitrogen decreased, while graphite-like nitrogen showed small change. Catalytic activity toward ORR was measured by linear sweep voltammograms (LSV). ORR activity increased by activation treatment. The specific ORR current of SAC normalized by mesopore volume was nearly equal, indicating that ORR current is dominated by the process in the mesopore. Onset potential of ORR was influenced not by surface area, but by the graphite-like nitrogen for high temperature carbnizatin.