ATOMICALLY DISPERSED PLATINUM-GROUP METAL-FREE CATALYSTS AND METHOD FOR SYNTHESIS OF THE SAME

Atomically dispersed platinum-group metal-free catalyst and method for synthesizing the same. According to one embodiment, the catalyst is made by a method in which, in a first step, an Mn-doped ZIF-8 catalyst precursor is prepared by reacting a first solution comprising zinc nitrate hexahydrate and manganese chloride dissolved in an acid/water solution with a second solution comprising 2-methylimidazole dissolved in water. Then, in a second step, the Mn-doped ZIF-8 catalyst precursor is thermally activated, i.e., carbonized, to form an Mn—N—C catalyst. Preferably, the thermal activation is performed in a multistep fashion, first at a lower temperature of about 800° C. and then at a higher temperature of about 1100° C. After carbonization, the catalyst material may optionally be subjected to an absorption process, followed by a second thermal activation. The absorption process may involve dispersing the catalyst material in a solution of manganese chloride and urea in hydrochloric acid and isopropanol.