Abstract
A Pt-free cathode catalyst is necessary for proton-exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC) to enable the widespread use of these environmentally friendly energy conversion devices at affordable price. Herein, a pyrolyzed electrospun carbon nanofibre (CNF) catalyst is prepared embedded with cobalt(II) phthalocyanine and iron(II) phthalocyanine compounds to provide the transition metal N 4-macrocyclic complex-derived sites (MN X) possessing better electrocatalytic oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) activity. The physical characterisation showed the nanofibrous structure of catalyst with rough surface texture and considerable amount of N, Fe, and Co. The DÀ MN 4 À CNFÀ ILÀ A catalyst prepared using ionic liquid as a porogen displayed the best electrocatalytic activity for O 2 electroreduction proceeding via 4e À pathway in 0.5 M H 2 SO 4 electrolyte solution with the ORR onset and half-wave potential of 0.83 and 0.71 V vs reversible hydrogen electrode (RHE), respectively.