Cobalt and nitrogen co-doped hierarchically porous carbon nanostructure: a bifunctional electrocatalyst for oxygen reduction and evolution reactions

Designing efficient and cost-effective electrocatalysts is a great challenge for oxygen reduction and evolution reactions (ORR/OER). Herein, we describe the fabrication of Co and N co-doped porous carbon-based catalysts (CoNPCs) using a single step method. The CoNPCs show good electrocatalytic activity and long-term durability due to the presence of plentiful Co and N active sites and highly porous nanostructures. Further demonstration in alkaline fuel cell and Zn–air battery devices shows remarkable performance as an efficient non-precious metal electrode.