ZnO-promoted dechlorination for hierarchically nanoporous carbon as superior oxygen reduction electrocatalyst - Carbon4Energy

The dechlorination of polyvinyl dichloride (PVDC) by unconventional agent ZnO at the presence of melamine was used to prepare hierarchically Porous N-Doped nanoCarbon (PDC). ZnO played multirole of dechlorination agent, template for mesopore, and most importantly, ZnCl2 generation source. The latter promoted carbonization and lead to hierarchical micro- and mesopore formation, which facilitated the electric and mass transportation in electrocatalytic oxygen reduction reaction. N-doping was obtained by adding melamine without structure character compromised. The 900 °C-annealed PDC exhibited ultrahigh activity which comprehensively surpassed the commercially available 20 wt.% Pt/C.