Sb, N co-doped bagasse-derived carbon activated by antimony acetate toward efficient oxygen reduction catalysis

Biomass-derived carbon electrocatalysts are promising low-cost alternatives to platinum-based catalysts for the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) and can greatly promote the practical application of metal-air batteries. However, rational fabrication of high-performance biomass carbon catalysts with well-defined active structures remains challenging. Herein, an antimony and nitrogen co-doped bagasse-derived carbon catalyst (Sb-N-C-1100) was fabricated via a facile antimony acetate-assisted activation strategy. The synergistic effects of high-temperature pyrolysis, antimony species evaporation, and chemical activation construct a hierarchical porous nanostructure with large specific surface area, moderate graphitization degree, and abundant SbN x species. Electrochemical tests demonstrate that the optimized Sb-N-C-1100 catalyst delivers excellent ORR catalytic activity with a favorable four-electron reaction pathway, outstanding cycling stability, and superior methanol poisoning resistance. This work provides a feasible route for the rational design and microstructure regulation of high-efficiency biomass-based ORR electrocatalysts for advanced energy conversion and storage devices.