Synthesis of pyridinic N-rich N-doped carbon by a zeolite template method using pyridine as a deposition source

Abstract

In recent years, N-doped carbon has attracted attention as an inexpensive, highly durable, and environmentally friendly electrode material. The catalytic activity of the carbon atoms near nitrogen varies depending on the position of N on the graphene lattice. Among the several nitrogen species, pyridinic N is believed to be effective in creating an optimal active site for application as an electrocatalyst. However, the selective doping of nitrogen has been considered difficult because carbon materials require high-temperature heat treatment during synthesis. This study used pyridine, which originally contained pyridinic N with basicity and can be adsorbed on zeolite acid sites, as the deposition source and combined with the zeolite template method to synthesize the catalyst. The catalysts were found to have many pyridinic N and were highly active in oxygen reduction reactions (onset potential: 0.92 V vs. RHE).