Towards high-efficiency nanoelectrocatalysts for oxygen reduction through engineering advanced carbon nanomaterials

One of the critical issues in the industrial development of fuel cells (e.g., proton exchange membrane fuel cells, direct methanol fuel cells and biofuel cells) is the high cost, serious intermediate tolerance, anode crossover, sluggish kinetics, and poor stability of the platinum (Pt) as the preferred electrocatalysts for the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) at the cathode. The development of novel noble-metal-free electrocatalysts with low cost, high activity and practical durability for ORR has been considered as one of the most active and competitive fields in chemistry and materials science. In this critical review, we will summarize recent advances on engineering advanced carbon nanomaterials with…