N-doped porous carbon material made from fish-bones and its highly electrocatalytic performance in the oxygen reduction reaction

Abstract

A N-doped porous carbon material was prepared by pyrolysis of fish bones, a natural material and sustainable source. The morphology and structure of the N-doped porous carbon were investigated by scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, Raman spectroscopy and N₂ isotherms. The mass content of N in the obtained sample measured by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy is about 6.02%. Electrochemical characterization reveals that the obtained N-doped porous carbon possesses excellent catalytic activity towards oxygen reduction reaction in alkaline medium, as well as long-term stability in catalysis.