Low‐Cost Chitosan‐Derived N‐Doped Carbons Boost Electrocatalytic Activity of Multiwall Carbon Nanotubes.

Abstract: An effective strategy is proposed to enhance the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) performance of multiwall carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) in both acid and alkaline electrolytes by coating them with a layer of biomass derivative N‐doped hydrothermal carbons. The N‐doped amorphous carbon coating plays triple roles: it (i) promotes the assembly of MWCNTs into a 3D network therefore improving the mass transfer and thus increasing the catalytic activity; (ii) protects the Fe‐containing active sites, present on the surface of the MWCNTs, from H2O2 poisoning; (iii) creates nitrogenated active sites and hence further enhances ORR activity and robustness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]