Oxygen Reduction on Catalysts Prepared by Pyrolysis of Electrospun Styrene-Acrylonitrile Copolymer and Multi-walled Carbon Nanotube Composite Fibres.

Abstract: For the first time, the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) is studied on pyrolysed electrospun multi-walled carbon nanotube (MWCNT) and styrene-acrylonitrile (SAN) composite fibre catalysts in alkaline medium. Scanning electron microscopy images revealed that the prepared catalysts mainly consist of MWCNTs, while nitrogen doping of the catalysts is confirmed by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. This indicates that SAN can be used as a nitrogen precursor. The ORR studies carried out by rotating disc electrode (RDE) and rotating ring-disc electrode (RRDE) methods showed that the prepared catalysts were considerably more active towards the ORR than the pristine MWCNTs.Graphical Abstract: <graphic></graphic> [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]