Melamine-derived high-graphite carbon hollow tubular Fe-N/C catalyzed alkaline oxygen reduction reaction

The Pt/C catalysts used to catalyze ORR are limited by their low reserves, high cost, and poor stability. Melamine is famous for its high nitrogen content and low cost. Herein, melamine, as a nitrogen source, was combined with ferric salt and citric acid to synthesize high-performance Fe-N-C catalysts with hollow tubes, it is of great significance for reducing the cost of catalysts. The onset potential, half-wave potential, and limiting current density are all higher than those of the Pt/C catalyst. Specifically, the half-wave potential is 0.911 V vs. RHE, higher than Pt/C 55 mV, indicating that the catalyst has well ORR catalytic activity. This result may be attributed to the hollow tubular morphology that can provide a larger specific surface area and a higher graphite nitrogen content.