Understand the Fe3C nanocrystalline grown on rGO and its performance for oxygen reduction reaction.

Transition metal carbide catalysts are the alternative products of traditional noble metal Pt/C in oxygen reduction reaction (ORR). Oleic acid-coated iron oxide nanoparticles (F 3 O 4 @OA) was prepared by pyrolysis, assembled with reduced graphene oxide (rGO), and carbonized at 800 °C to obtain N doped iron carbide nanoparticles supported rGO (N–Fe 3 C/rGO). The particle size of nanocrystals increases significantly with the graphene loading risen can be seen in the transmission electron microscope (TEM) image which roughly distributed around 40 nm. The linear scanning voltammetry (LSV) curve shows the material has an ORR performance equivalent to Pt/C in alkaline media. • Controllable supported Fe 3 C nanocrystals on rGO. • Enhanced electrochemical performance by proportion Fe 3 C on rGO. • Remarkably enhanced ORR performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]