Controllable preparation of nitrogen-doped graphitized carbon from molecular precursor as non-metal oxygen evolution reaction electrocatalyst

Nitrogen-doped graphitized carbon materials have been proposed as promising catalytic materials for oxygen evolution reaction in alkaline water-electrolysis hydrogen production. In this study, newly graphene-like graphitized carbon nanocages and nitrogen-doped graphitized carbon nanotubes are controllably prepared by using Tween-20 as molecular precursor, Ni as graphitization catalyst and urea as nitrogen source. The as-prepared materials are characterized by X-Ray Diffraction, scanning electron microscope, transmission electron microscopy and Raman spectroscopy X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. The OER electrochemical performances are evaluated by linear sweep voltammetry and chronoamperometry. It is found that the nitrogen-doped graphitized carbon nanotubes have higher oxygen evolution activity, lower oxygen evolution overpotential and desirable electrochemical stability relative to graphitized carbon nanocages, demonstrating it is a promising catalytic material for OER in alkaline water-electrolysis hydrogen production.