Nitrogen and sulfur dual-doped carbon nanotube derived from a thiazolothiazole based conjugated microporous polymer as efficient metal-free electrocatalysts for oxygen reduction reaction

• Published in: Journal of power sources 2020-06, Vol.461, p.228145, Article 228145
• Main Authors: Ren, Shi-Bin, Chen, Xue-Lu, Li, Pei-Xian, Hu, Dai-Yu, Liu, Hai-Lin, Chen, Wei, Xie, Wen-Bao, Chen, Yuxiang, Yang, Xiao-Li, Han, De-Man, Ning, Guo-Hong, Xia, Xing-Hua
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Conjugated microporous polymer; Heteroatom-doped carbon materials; Oxygen reduction reaction; Thiazolothiazole based
• ISSN: 0378-7753; 1873-2755
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jpowsour.2020.228145

The present report demonstrates a simple approach for the synthesis of efficient metal-free electrocatalysts of nitrogen- and sulfur-codoped carbon materials (N–S-DPCs) via carbonization of thiazolothiazole based conjugated microporous polymer precursors (XWB-CMP). The precursors are composed of densely populated thiazolothiazole units that uniformly decorate over the micropore surface and can be readily converted into novel N–S-DPCs with a uniform nitorgen/sulfur distribution by template-free pyrolysis. The electrochemical characterization demonstrates that N–S-DPCs obtained at pyrolysis temperature of 1000 °C exhibits a high electrocatalytic activity toward oxygen reduction reaction (ORR), superior durability, good methanol tolerance as compared to the commercial Pt/C catalyst. The present work sheds insights into the effects of heteroatom doping on ORR electrocatalysts. [Display omitted] •These efficient metal-free electrocatalysts was synthesized via carbonization.•XWB-CMP is composed of densely populated thiazolothiazole units.•XWB-CMP-1000 exhibits a higher electrocatalytic activity toward ORR.