A lignin-derived N-doped carbon-supported iron-based nanocomposite as high-efficiency oxygen reduction reaction electrocatalyst.

Fuel cells are a promising renewable energy technology that depend heavily on noble metal Pt-based catalysts, particularly for the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR). The discovery of new, efficient non-precious metal ORR catalysts is critical for the continued development of cost-effective, high-performance fuel cells. The synthesized carbon material showed excellent electrocatalytic activity for the ORR, with half-wave potential (E) and limiting current density (JL) of 0.88 V and 5.10 mA·cm in alkaline electrolyte, respectively. The material has a Tafel slope of (65 mV dec), which is close to commercial Pt/C catalysts (60 mV dec). Moreover, the prepared materials exhibited excellent performance when assembled as cathodes for zinc-air batteries. The power density reached 110.02 mW cm and the theoretical specific capacity was 801.21 mAh g, which was higher than that of the Pt/C catalyst (751.19 mAh g). In this study, with the assistance of Mg(CO)(OH)·4HO, we introduce an innovative approach to synthesize advanced carbon materials, achieving precise control over the material's structure and properties. This research bridges a crucial gap in material science, with potential applications in renewable energy technologies, particularly in enhancing catalysts for fuel cells.