In Situ Self‐Supporting Cobalt Embedded in Nitrogen‐Doped Porous Carbon as Efficient Oxygen Reduction Electrocatalysts

A facile two‐step chemical route using cobalt ions coordinated with EDTA (CoII/EDTA chelate complex supported on glucose mixture), followed by the in situ pyrolysis process, from 500 to 900 °C, was developed to prepare Co embedded in N‐doped porous carbon hybrids (Co@C−T). The EDTA chelating agent served as both the N source and pore former. The physicochemical characterization results revealed that the pore structure, graphitization degree, and relative content of active centers, e. g., cobalt‐based components and nitrogen species, for Co@C−T electrocatalysts, were tailored by controlling the temperature of pyrolysis. The optimized material generated at 600 °C (Co@C‐600), showed an excellent oxygen reduction reaction activity with an onset potential of 0.91 V vs. RHE, and a half‐wave potential of 0.80 V vs. RHE. In addition, the Co@C‐600 catalyst showed superior durability and stability compared to the benchmark Pt/C. Top pore former: A series of Co embedded in N‐doped porous carbon hybrids (Co@C−T) with a hierarchically porous structure are successfully fabricated through a facile two‐step route involving cobalt ions coordinated with EDTA and a subsequent high‐temperature carbonization process. The EDTA chelating agent served as both the N source and pore former. The pyrolytic temperature plays a crucial role on the evolution of the microstructure, porosity texture, and graphitization degree for the Co@C−T electrocatalysts.