Nitrogen‐Doped Nanoporous Graphenic Carbon: An Efficient Conducting Support for O₂ Cathode

Abstract Herein, we synthesize a nanoporous N‐doped graphenic carbon with high surface area and a higher graphenization/graphitic degree by further developing the metallothermic reduction of gaseous CO₂ by adding N₂ into the gas flow. The N‐doped nanoporous carbon is composed of both a highly porous graphenic and non‐graphitic matrix and homogeneously dispersed ordered graphitic nanodomains, which constitute a very unique composite carbon structure. The resulting N‐doped graphenic carbon exhibits much more favorable reactivity as a carbon conducting support in the O₂ cathode of Li‐O₂ batteries, increasing the specific capacity of the GC electrode from 5300 to 9600 mAh g⁻¹. The N‐doped carbon also exhibits lower overpotentials during initial cycling for the charging process as well as an enhanced cycling performance compared to the undoped carbon. These results demonstrate that N‐doping has a strong correlation with the enhanced performance of O₂ cathode of Li‐O₂ batteries.