Sulfur-Doping Templated Synthesis of Nanoporous Graphitic Nanocages and Its Supported Catalysts for Efficient Methanol Oxidation

We demonstrate a new sulfur (S)-doping templated approach to fabricate highly nanoporous graphitic nanocages (GNCs) by air-oxidizing the templates in the graphitic shells to create nanopores. Sulfur can be introduced, when Fe@C core–shell nanoparticles are prepared and then S-doped GNCs can be obtained by removing their ferrous cores. Due to removing S-template, both the specific surface area (from 540 to 850 m² g⁻¹) and the mesopore volume (from 0.44 to 0.9 cm³ g⁻¹) of the graphitic nanocages have sharply risen. Its high specific surface area improves catalyst loading to provide more reaction electro-active sites while its high mesopore volume promotes molecule diffusion across the nanocages, making it an excellent material to support Pt/Ru catalysts for direct methanol fuel cells.