Preparation of Carbon-Based Catalysts for PEFC from Nitrogen-Containing Aromatic Polymers

Carbon-based catalysts, non-precious metal catalysts for the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR), were prepared from polyimides (PI) with iron species. Nano spherical PI with iron composite was used as starting materials. Nano spherical carbon-based catalysts with diameter of 200-300 nm could be obtained by carbonization of the nano spherical starting materials. The obtained nano-sized catalyst showed higher ORR activity and higher four electron reduction selectivity as compared pulverized catalysts prepared from bulk sample.