Nitrogen and sulfur Co-doped graphene inlaid with cobalt clusters for efficient oxygen reduction reaction

Abstract Cobalt based catalysts are promising for oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) for unitized regenerative fuel cells and alkaline metal-air batteries. Herein, we report a novel non-precious ORR catalyst, in which cobalt clusters with a mean size of ∼2 nm are inlaid into porous nitrogen and sulfur co-doped graphene matrix. Benefiting from the unique structural property of Co clusters and the three-dimensional (3D) hierarchical porous architecture of nitrogen and sulfur codoped graphene, the prepared catalyst exhibits excellent ORR catalytic activity with good methanol tolerance and long-term durability in alkaline environment.