Block Copolymer Templated Carbonization of Nitrogen Containing Polymer to Create Fine and Mesoporous Carbon for Oxygen Reduction Catalyst

This study demonstrates the synthesis of mesoporous carbon materials utilizing the self-assembly of a block copolymer and its electrocatalytic activity for oxygen reduction. Fine and mesoporous carbon containing ferrum (Fe) and nitrogen (N) species has been successfully synthesized by multistep pyrolysis of a self-assembled imide film fabricated via a soft template approach. The obtained sample has well-ordered mesostructure accompanied by uniform pores with diameter of 4.8 nm and BET surface area of 1660 m(2) g(-1). This material is tough enough to retain its mesostructured even after mechanical ball milling, which will be essential in the application as a fuel cell catalyst. Promising catalytic activity for electrochemical oxygen reduction owing to enhanced mass transport has been demonstrated. (C) 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.