Enhanced Electrocatalytic Performance for Oxygen Reduction Reaction of Porous Carbon Materials Functionalized by Binuclear Ball‐Type Metallophthalocyanines

ABSTRACT Binuclear ball‐type metallophthalocyanines, Co 2 Pc 2 (EP) 4 , were wrapped on porous carbon Z67‐900 materials using a facilely “ π – π assembly” method to prepare Co 2 Pc 2 (EP) 4 @Z67‐900 catalysts for oxygen reduction reactions (ORR). The XRD and pore size distribution results indicate that the presence of high graphitization degree and porosity distribution in Z67‐900. The high graphitization degree of Z67‐900 carbon materials is beneficial for the formation of π – π interaction based on the π electron‐conjugated structure of the binuclear ball‐type metallophthalocyanines Co 2 Pc 2 (EP) 4 system. The electrocatalytic test shows that the reduction potential −0.18 V (vs. SCE) for Co 2 Pc 2 (EP) 4 @Z67‐900 is 20% higher than that of commercial Pt/C. The porosity distribution in Z67‐900 promotes the oxygen molecules concentration around the active sites MN 4 ‐type Co 2 Pc 2 (EP) 4 macrocyclic system to form an intermediate O 2 ads ‐Co 2 Pc 2 (EP) 4 @Z67‐900. The π – π interactions between Co 2 Pc 2 (EP) 4 and Z67‐900 decreased the activation energy of the *OOH dissociation step in a four‐electron ORR process. It provides a theoretical basis for the subsequent application research of zinc‐air batteries.