Graphitizing N-doped mesoporous carbon nanospheres via facile single atom iron growth for highly efficient oxygen reduction reaction

Single atom catalyst is of great importance for the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR). However, facile preparation of single atom catalyst without using well-designed precursors or labor-intensive acid leaching remains an urgent challenge. Herein, a simple pyrolysis of Fe³⁺-loaded mesoporous phenolic resin (mPF)-melamine precursor is used to prepare the single atom iron-anchored N-doped mesoporous graphitic carbon nanospheres (Fe/N-MGN). Investigation of the synthesis reveals the appropriate Fe-assisted catalysis effect and mPF template effect, which not only spurs the highly graphitic porous framework of Fe/N-MGN with plentiful pyridinic N/graphitic N, but also assures the dispersed single atom Fe anchoring without elaborated procedures. As a result, the as-synthesized Fe/N-MGN demonstrates high catalytic activity, good durability and excellent methanol tolerance for ORR. This work promises a facile method to regulate the graphitic carbon growth and single atom Fe loading for the highly efficient electrocatalysis.