Noble Metal-Free Electrocatalysts for OER and ORR Based on Phytic Acid

This study presents a versatile, eco-friendly approach for synthesizing noble metal-free electrocatalysts by combining phytic acid (PA) with transition metals (M: Co, Mn, Ni, Cu). The resulting materials (MPA) feature metal phosphides or phosphates intricately embedded within an amorphous carbon matrix, with composition and structure highly dependent on the selected metal precursor. MnPA displayed notable oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) activity (E_ONSET = 0.85 V vs. RHE), while NiPA showed strong oxygen evolution reaction (OER) performance (E_OER = 1.62 V vs. RHE), revealing the potential of phosphorus as a powerful dopant in carbon-based systems. This study highlights the tunability of electrocatalytic properties through metal selection and provides a sustainable pathway for designing high-performance ORR and OER electrodes. The results underscore the role of phosphorus chemistry in advancing next-generation energy conversion technologies.