Fe2P Nanoparticles Decorated Heteroatom-Doped Carbon Nanotubes as High-Performance Oxygen Reduction Catalysts

In this paper, a kind of hybrid oxygen reduction catalysts composed of Fe2P nanoparticles and heteroatom-doped mesoporous carbon nanotubes (HCNTs) were prepared and used as a novel alternative to traditional noble metal-based catalysts. Polyphosphazene nanotubes (PZSNTs) were used as carbon matrix precursors, and PZSNTs absorbed ferric acetylacetonate were carbonized to obtain the hybrid catalysts, Fe2P-CNTs. Fe2P nanoparticles embedded in graphited carbon layers could be generated on the surface of HCNTs. Fe2P-CNTs showed excellent catalytic activity, and their performance was even comparable to that of Pt/C catalysts. The synergistic effect between Fe2P nanoparticles and HCNTs via electronic interaction could enhance the activity of the catalysts. These findings provide a facile approach for rational design heteroatom-doped carbon-based ORR catalysts with polyphosphazene acting as the precursor, and reveal a method to promote the activity of active centers by electronic interaction.