Proof-of-concept fabrication of carbon structure in Cu–N–C catalysts of both high ORR activity and stability

N-doped hierarchical carbon (NHC) composed of hierarchically arranged highly graphitic graphene shells with high surface/bulk ratio is demonstrated as a proof of concept, and utilized as carbon source in Cu–N–C catalysts. The special structure is contributed to Fe nanoparticles induced to PANI nanospheres, which serving as hard templates greatly alter the thermal decomposition/carbonization process of PANI. When employed as carbon source in Cu–N–C ORR catalyst, not only is the catalytic activity boosted as a result of highly loaded Cu centers anchored at the rather accessible sites to oxygen, the stability is greatly enhanced as well.