Space-Confinement-Induced Synthesis of Pyridinic- and Pyrrolic-Nitrogen-Doped Graphene for the Catalysis of Oxygen Reduction

Wei Ding, Zidong Wei，Siguo Chen，Xueqiang，Tao Yang，Jinsong Hu，Dong Wang，Li-Jun Wan，Shahnaz Fatima Alvi，Li Li

Angew. Chem. Int. Ed., 2013, 52, 11755–11759, DOI: 10.1002/anie.201303924

Abstract  (click image for pdf file)

Forced obedience: Layer-structured montmorillonite (MMT) was used as a nanoreactor for the generation of planar pyridinic and pyrrolic N sites in nitrogen-doped graphene (NG; see picture). The selectivity for the formation of planar N sites was inversely proportional to the interspace width (δ) of the MMT and reached a maximum of 90.27 %. The NG catalyst exhibited low electrical resistance, high electrocatalytic activity, and good stability.