Heteroatom- and metalloid-doped carbon catalysts for oxygen reduction reaction: a mini-review

• Published in: Ionics Vol. 26; no. 4; pp. 1563 - 1589
• Main Authors: Gouse Peera, Shaik, Kwon, Hyuk-Jun, Lee, Tae Gwan, Hussain, A. Mohammed
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Berlin/Heidelberg Springer Berlin Heidelberg 01.04.2020; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Catalysis; Catalysts; Chemical synthesis; Chemistry; Chemistry and Materials Science; Condensed Matter Physics; Electrocatalysts; Electrochemistry; Energy Storage; Optical and Electronic Materials; Oxygen reduction reactions; Platinum; Renewable and Green Energy; Review; Metalloid catalysts; Fuel cells; Oxygen reduction reaction; Heteroatom doping; Metal-free catalysts
• ISSN: 0947-7047; 1862-0760
• DOI: 10.1007/s11581-020-03473-0

Electrocatalysts for oxygen reduction reaction have been the study of interest because of their importance in various energy storage and conversion reactions. Though platinum-based catalysts are found to be the most active catalysts for oxygen reduction reactions, their high cost and scarcity have led researchers to discover alternative active and cost-effective catalysts. In this regard, heteroatom- and metalloid-doped catalysts were explored as possible alternatives to traditional platinum-based catalysts. Consequently, a large number of heteroatom- and metalloid-doped catalysts have been synthesized and evaluated for oxygen reduction activity. Synergistic catalysts, with dual-doped, tri-doped, and multi-heteroatom-doped catalysts, were also synthesized by doping more than one heteroatom. In this review, we discuss the fundamental principles and reasons behind the origin of ORR catalysis of heteroatom- and metalloid-doped catalysts discussed with the support of literatures.