L–Cysteine Modulated ZIF for Deriving Nitrogen‐Doped Porous Carbon: A Highly Efficient and Stable Electrocatalyst for Oxygen Reduction Reactions.

Zeolitic Imidazolate Frameworks (ZIFs) derived nitrogen‐doped porous carbon (NPC) materials have been proposed as promising metal‐free electrocatalysts for oxygen reduction reactions (ORR). Herein, we report a strategy to control the morphology of ZIF‐8 and ZIF material‐derived NPC materials by the amount of L‐cysteine. The prepared NPC electrocatalysts exhibit different morphologies and ORR properties. The best of these catalysts exhibited a nanosheet‐like morphology with an onset potential of 0.95 V and a half‐wave potential of 0.87 V in alkaline media, which are comparable to those of commercial Pt/C (20 wt%) catalysts. In addition, this catalyst exhibited high stability and methanol resistance. This work not only reveals the effect of L‐cysteine amount on the growth process of ZIF, but also provides a strategy for designing various excellent catalysts in the fuel cell field. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]