Norbornane derived N-doped sp2 carbon framework as an efficient electrocatalyst for oxygen reduction reaction and hydrogen evolution reaction

Hitherto, the development of Pt free bifunctional electrocatalyst for oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) and hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) is necessary for the advancement of sustainable and cost-effective solutions for energy conversion and storage technology. In this direction, herein we elucidated the usage of N doped sp(2) hybridized carbon framework (N-CF) as a metal-free electrocatalyst for ORR and HER. This work inspects the effect of N doping that converts a hybrid structure of CF {Norbornane or bicyclo [2,2,1] heptane structure} into planar N-CF. A series of N-doped CF with different doping concentrations has been prepared using a facile and cost-effective technique. This robust electrocatalysts exhibits a promotional effect in the activity, porosity, thermal and electrochemical stability for the ORR and HER reactions. A rich delocalized electronic density of the sp(2) bounded N species helps in modulating antibonding state of molecular oxygen and facilitates the breakage of O=O bond in ORR. It also promotes proton adsorption via bonding between proton and valence electron rich catalyst surface to aid HER. The research sought to investigate the employability of N-CF for fabricating sustainable energy devices with electrocatalyst possessing multiple electrocatalytic activities for ORR and HER. Density Functional Theory (DFT) computations reveals that active sites for HER are carbon atom located at the edge close to pyrrolic nitrogen and adjacent to graphitic nitrogen dopants.