Fe,N-doped graphene prepared by NH3 plasma with a high performance for oxygen reduction reaction.

• A Fe ,N- doped graphene prepared by NH 3 plasma is reported. • The reduction of graphene oxide and Fe ,N- doping were achieved simultaneously after NH 3 plasma treatment. • The Fe ,N- doped graphene prepared by NH 3 plasma exhibits the high activity and durability for oxygen reduction reaction. • There is a large specific surface area and abundant pyridinic N of the sample treated by NH 3 plasma. To obtain a low cost and high performance non-noble metal catalysts and replace noble metal catalysts such as Pt-based catalysts in oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) are of a significant importance for sustainable energy conversion. A kind of Fe,N-doped graphene prepared by NH 3 plasma as a promising alternative was prepared. Various characterizations including XRD, TEM, XPS and BET were carried out. The results of XRD and XPS characterizations indicate that GO reduction and Fe ,N- doping were achieved simultaneously after NH 3 plasma treatment. There is a large amount of pyridinic N (up to 68.19% of the total nitrogen content) on the surface of Fe ,N- GO-P. Fe particle in Fe ,N- GO-P is so small that they cannot be found in the images of HRTEM. Compared with the Fe ,N- GO-C, Fe ,N- GO-P has a large specific surface area. Although the onset potential is negative, but it exhibits a high limiting current density and durability in alkaline medium. The mechanism of ORR on Fe ,N- GO-P has been revealed that is ,N- G a quasi-four electron reaction pathway Fe,N-GO-P mainly followed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]