Supporting Information For: A, B C A A, B A A
Supporting Information For: A, B C A A, B A A
Supporting Information For: A, B C A A, B A A
Mengxia Shena,b, Li-Rong Zheng c, Wenhui Hea, Changping Ruana,b, Chunhuan Jianga, Kelong Aia,*, Lehui
Lua,*
a
State Key Laboratory of Electroanalytical Chemistry, Changchun Institute of Applied Chemistry,
Chinese Academy of Sciences, Changchun, 130022, P. R. China
b
University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100039, P. R. China
c
Beijing Synchrotron Radiation Facility, Institute of High Energy Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences,
Beijing, 100049, P. R. China
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Figure S1. (a) Co K-edge XANES spectra for Co-A10, Co-G10 and Co-C10 NCs. Observed (solid line)
and calculated (dash line) Fourier transforms of k3-weighted Co K-edge EXAFS spectra for (b) Co-A10,
(c) Co-G10 and (d) Co-C10 NCs. XAFS measurements demonstrated that Co atom in Co-A10, Co-G10 and
Figure S2. TEM images of (a) Co-G10 and (b) Co-C10 NCs.
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Figure S3. EDX analysis of (a) Co-A10, (b) Co-G10 and (c) Co-C10 NCs.
Figure S4. HAADF-STEM maps of Co-A10 NCs, and corresponding elemental mapping images of the
3
Figure S5. UV-vis absorption spectra of (a) A10, Co-A10, (b) G10, Co-G10 and (c) C10, Co-C10 NCs.
Upon Co(II) complexation, the absorption variation in the UV-vis spectra is observed for all Co-
ssDNA conjugation, clearly indicating the chemical coordination and electron coupling between Co(II)
and ssDNAs.
4
NH2
N
7 6 N O O
1 NH2
9 3
O N
N N
-
O P O 5' 6 N NH
7 NH
1 3 3
O 1'
3' 2'
9 1 1
N
3 N O
O N NH2 N O
R R R
NH2 O NH2 O
N N 6 N
7 6 N 7 NH 3 NH
1 1 3
9 9 1 1
3 3
N N N O N O
H N H N NH2 H H
Figure S6. Structures of the ssDNAs (R is phosphate-sugar backbone) and nucleobases (R=H).
(1) The pyridine/imidazole-type nitrogen (N1, N3 and N7) in purine base adenine (A) are efficient metal
coordination sites, which lead to the successful formation of Co-A NSs. The calculated coordination
number of Co-N/O in Co-A NSs is 4, while this value is increased to 6 in Co-A10. It is therefore
concluded that both the pyridine/imidazole-type nitrogen and the phosphate-sugar backbone contribute to
(2) The pyridine/imidazole-type nitrogen (N3 and N7) of guanine (G) and the phosphate-sugar backbone
can both contribute to the coordination interactions in Co-G10. However, G is practically insoluble in
DMF, and thus couldn’t generate the self-assembly nanostructures in this synthesis condition.
(3) Only N3 in the pyrimidine base cytosine (C) has lone-pair electrons to coordinate with metal ions,
because the N1 with –H group make itself an inefficient bonding site. Hence, free C molecule can’t form
Co-C assemblies with Co(II). However, in stark contrast to free C, the –R group (R is the phosphate-
sugar backbone) in C10 can donate additional bonding sites (e.g., phosphate O atoms), which in
5
combination with N3, can provide at least two bonding sites for the generation of Co-C10 assemblies by
the coordination interactions. Thus, Co-C10 assemblies can be obtained in our experiments.
(4) Obviously, both N1 and N3 in T molecule are inefficient bonding sites to coordinate with metal ions.
Thus, free T molecule can’t form Co-T assemblies with Co(II). Although –R groups in T10 might provide
additional bonding sites, the Co-T10 assemblies were still not formed in our experiment, indicating that
there are very limited coordination sites in –R groups (phosphate backbones and sugars).
Figure S7. (a-b) TEM images of Co-A NSs. (c) HAADF-STEM and corresponding EDX elemental
mapping images of Co-A NSs. (d) UV-vis absorption spectra of adenine and Co-A NSs. Inset:
photograph showing the dispersibility of (A) adenine and (B) Co-A NSs in water.
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Figure S8. FTIR spectra of Co-A NSs and the pyrolysis products at different temperatures.
The FTIR spectrum of Co-A NSs indicates the characteristic absorption bands at 3000-3500 cm-1,
which correspond to C-H and N-H stretching vibrations. Additionally, the skeleton stretching vibrations
of heterocyclic adenine base with the absorption peaks at 1200-1600 cm-1 can be clearly identified. The
FTIR spectrum of Co-A-500 is similar to that of the Co-A NSs precursor, demonstrating the largely
preserved coordination structure. After pyrolysis of Co-A NSs at increased temperatures, the
characteristic peak for C=N bonding (approximately 1600 cm-1) can be observed, and the intensities of
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Figure S9. (a) Co K-edge XANES spectra for Co foil, Co-A NSs and the pyrolysis products at different
temperatures. Observed (solid line) and calculated (dash line) Fourier transforms of k3-weighted Co K-
edge EXAFS spectra for (b) Co-A NSs and (c) Co-A-500.
Nearly identical XANES spectra for Co-A and Co-A-500 prove that the majority of Co remains in the
+2 oxidation state and the coordination structure is intact in Co-A-500. At higher activation temperatures
(from 600 °C to 900 °C), the XANES spectra reveal extensive reduction of Co 2+ to metallic cobalt, with
its characteristic 1s→4p transition at the energy of 7726 eV. However, an obvious increase in the white
line intensity is observed for Co-N/C-x compared to the Co foil, highly indicating the distinctive nano-
Figure S10. (a) SEM and (b) TEM images of rambutan-like Co-N/C-700.
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Figure S11. XRD patterns of Co-A NSs after pyrolysis at different temperatures.
The broad peak of the XRD pattern at about 26.5°corresponds to the (002) planes of the graphitic
carbon, while the other sharp diffraction peaks are characteristic of metallic cobalt with a cubic phase
(JCPDS 15-0806). It can be seen from XRD patterns that the high pyrolysis temperature is favorable for
the formation of well-crystallized cobalt metal. At the same time, the diffraction peaks corresponding to
graphitic carbon are observed to be quite broad and weak in the patterns because of its low amount and
Figure S12. TEM images of (a) NC-A derived from the pyrolysis of adenine, and (b) Co/N/C derived
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Figure S13. XRD patterns of NC-A derived from the pyrolysis of adenine, and Co/N/C derived by the
physical-mixture method.
Figure S14. Raman spectra of the Co-N/C-x (x varies from 600 °C to 900 °C).
Raman data confirm the gradual change of local structure towards ordered graphitic carbon at
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Figure S15. Nyquist plots of (a) Co-N/C-700 and NC-A-700, (b) Co-A NSs, (c) Co-A-500 and (d) Co-
N/C-600, as well as their corresponding fitting plots calculated by using the software ZSIMPWIN. (e)
The electrical equivalent circuit used for fitting the impedance spectra of Co-A NSs, Co-A-500 and NC-
A-700. (f) The electrical equivalent circuit used for fitting the impedance spectra of Co-N/C-600 and Co-
N/C-700. (g) Equivalent circuit parameters obtained from the fitting results.
According to the equivalent circuit parameters obtained from the fitting results, the charge transfer
resistance (RCT) of Co-N/C-700 (3.6Ω) is much lower than that of NC-A-700 (114Ω) and Co-A NSs
(1218Ω). It is evident that the formation of MWCNTs and encapsulated metallic cobalt during the
pyrolysis can concertedly enhance the electroconductivity of Co-N/C as compared to either NC-A or Co-
A NSs precursor.
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Figure S16. (a, c, e) N2 adsorption-desorption isotherms and (b, d, f) the cumulative pore volume and
pore-size distribution curves for (a-b) NC-A, (c-d) Co/N/C derived by physical-mixture method and (e-f)
Co-A NSs.
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Figure S17. (a) Polarization plots of Co-A-x (x is the pyrolysis temperature that varies from 500 °C to
900 °C) in O2-saturated 0.1 M KOH (1600 rpm). (b) Polarization curves of Co-N/C at different rotating
speeds in O2-saturated 0.1 M KOH. The inset in (b) is the corresponding Koutecky-Levich plots at
different potentials derived from RDE. (c) The disk current and ring current of Co-N/C-700 at 1600 rpm
in O2-saturated 0.1 M KOH. (d) The electron transfer number (n) and peroxide yield of Co-N/C-700 at
different potentials in O2-saturated 0.1 M KOH. (e,f) The electron transfer number (n) and peroxide yield
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Figure S18. (a-c) The reproducibility of polarization curves at 1600 rpm for 20 wt% Pt/C with different
loadings in O2-saturated 0.1 M KOH. (d) Polarization curves at 1600 rpm for four batches of Co-N/C in
O2-saturated 0.1 M KOH. (e) Polarization curves at 1600 rpm for several batches of Co-A NSs, NC-A
and Co/N/C in O2-saturated 0.1 M KOH. (f) Polarization curves at 1600 rpm in O2-saturated 0.1 M
KOH for various samples. All non-precious catalysts and 20 wt% Pt/C loadings in (d-f) are 0.4 mg cm-2.
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Figure S19. Polarization curves at 1600 rpm for (a) 20 wt% Pt/C and (b) Co-N/C in O2-saturated 0.1 M
KOH with two RRDEs as the working electrodes. (c) CV curves for 20 wt% Pt/C and Co-N/C in O2-
saturated 0.1 M KOH with two RRDEs as the working electrodes. (d) Photograph of the two RRDEs
(both are 5.0 mm in diameter). The polarization curves and CV curves for either Co-N/C or 20 wt% Pt/C
present almost identical results on the two RRDEs, which implies the proper reproducibility of the
catalytic tests.
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Figure S20. (a) Polarization curves at 1600 rpm and (b) CV curves for 20 wt% Pt/C and Co-N/C in O2-
saturated 0.1 M KOH. The ORR test employs a Pt disk as the counter electrode and an Hg/HgO
electrode as the reference electrode. Co-N/C loading is 0.4 mg cm-2; 20 wt% Pt/C loading is 0.2 mg cm-2.
16
Figure S21. (a) Polarization curves at 1600 rpm and (b) CV curves in O2-saturated 0.1 M KOH for Co-
N/C catalyst before and after acid leaching in 0.5 M H2SO4 overnight. (c) N2 adsorption-desorption
isotherms and (d) the pore-size distribution curves for the acid-treated Co-N/C.
Compared with the untreated sample, the Co-N/C with acid washing exhibited a higher diffusion-
limiting current density in the polarization curve and a higher area in the CV curve. Based on the ICP
analysis, acid washing caused a weight loss of 26.4% Co. Additionally, due to the removal of the
exposed small Co metal that has blocked the micropores, the acid-treated Co-N/C exhibited an increase
in its SBET (282 cm2 g-1) and a decrease in its average pore diameter (4.3 nm). Therefore, with the
improved microporosity, the current density enhancement could be attributed to the more efficient mass
transport. However, acid leaching of the Co-N/C could remove some inactive metal residues and unstable
Co-N species. At the same time, this washing process resulted in contaminants in the catalyst. The
dissolution and contamination of the active sites made the catalyst less active than the untreated sample in
terms of the negative shift of the onset potential and CV peak potential. Therefore, Co-N/C catalysts
were not acid-treated when applied in the electrocatalysis tests in alkaline condition.
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Figure S22. (a) Polarization plots for 20 wt% Pt/C and Co-A-x (x is the pyrolysis temperature that
varies from 500 °C to 900 °C) in O2-saturated 0.1 M HClO4 (1600 rpm). (b) CV curves of Co-N/C-700
and 20 wt% Pt/C in Ar and O2-saturated 0.1 M HClO4. (c) Polarization curves of Co-N/C-700 at
different rotating speeds. The inset in (c) represents Koutecky-Levich plots at different potentials derived
from RDE. (d) Chronoamperometry (i-t) measurements of Co-N/C-700 and 20 wt% Pt/C in O2-saturated
0.1 M HClO4 at 0.65 V (vs. RHE), 225 rpm. (e,f) Polarization curves of Co-N/C-700 and 20 wt% Pt/C
in O2-saturated 0.1 M HClO 4 before and after addition of 0.5 M methanol, respectively. Note: Co-N/C
catalyst samples were immersed in 0.5 M H2SO4 overnight and washed until neutral for further catalytic
use. Co-N/C loading is 0.4 mg cm-2; 20 wt% Pt/C loading is 0.2 mg cm-2.
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The CV and RRDE measurements verify that Co-N/C-700 presents favorable ORR activity in the
acidic condition. Moreover, due to its superior catalytic selectivity and durability, Co-N/C could also
work as the cathodic ORR catalyst in proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs), which operate
Figure S23. Large-scale production of (a) Co-A NSs and (b) the pyrolysis products Co-N/C. (c) The
price of the raw-materials, the as-prepared Co-N/C and the commercial 20 wt% Pt/C.
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Figure S24. TEM images of Co-A NSs after pyrolysis at (a-b) 500 °C, (c-d) 600 °C, (e-f) 800 °C and (g-
h) 900 °C.
TEM observations reveal that the as-prepared product remains spherical in shape after pyrolysis at
500 °C. The MWCNTs extruding out of the spheres began to appear at the temperatures above 600 °C.
By pyrolyzing Co-A NSs at higher temperatures (800 °C and 900 °C), we noticed that larger aggregated
Figure S25. High-resolution (a) C 1s, (b) N 1s and (c) Co 2p XPS spectra of Co/N/C derived by
physical-mixture method.
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Figure S26. High-resolution (a) C 1s and (b) N 1s XPS spectra of NC-A.
Figure S27. Thermogravimertic analysis (TGA) spectra in air atmosphere of Co-A NSs and the pyrolysis
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Figure S28. (a) 0.1 M KOH solution. (b) 0.1 M KOH solution after 10 000 times ORR cycles for Co-
N/C. After 10 000 cycles, the separated supernatant of 0.1 M KOH electrolyte was analyzed by ICP-MS
system, and the result displayed that no Co ion was detected in the electrolyte solution. The photographs
show that the KOH electrolyte has no color change after 10 000 times ORR cycles for Co-N/C.
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Figure S29. (a) SEM and (b) TEM image of Fe-A nanocomposites spheres. (c) SEM and (d) TEM
image of Fe-N/C. (e) XRD pattern of Fe-N/C. (f) N2 adsorption-desorption isotherms of Fe-N/C. The
inset in (f) shows the cumulative pore volume and pore-size distribution curve.
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Figure S30. (a) TEM image of Ni-A nanocomposites. (b) TEM image, (c) N2 adsorption-desorption
isotherms and (d) XRD pattern of Ni-N/C. The inset in (c) shows the cumulative pore volume and pore-
Figure S31. (a) Polarization curves at 1600 rpm and (b) CV curves in O2-saturated (solid line) and Ar-
saturated (dash line) 0.1 M KOH for Co-N/C, Fe-N/C and Ni-N/C.
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Figure S32. (a) Polarization curve and (b) CV curve of Co-N/C in O2-saturated 0.1 M KOH at a scan
rate of 100 mV s-1. (c) Polarization curve of Co-N/C in O2-saturated 0.1 M KOH at a scan rate of 50 mV
s-1. (d) Contiguous CV cyclic scans at a scan rate of 50 mV s-1 for 20 times. (e) Polarization curve and (f)
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Table S1. Structural parameters extracted from quantitative EXAFS curve-fitting for Co-N/O in
different samples.
R(Å): inter-atomic distance, CN: coordination number, σ2: mean-square relative displacement (Debye-
Waller factor), △E: shift of E0 value, R-factor is a measure of the misfit distribution over both data sets
(%).
Note: the N and O atoms are not distinguishable by this technique due to their close proximity.
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Table S2. Summary of elemental contents in the as-prepared samples. C (wt%) and N (wt%) are from
the quantitative elemental analysis, and Co (wt%) is from the detection of TGA.
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Table S3. ORR catalytic activities of Co-N/C-700 compared to previously reported NPMCs materials in
0.1 M KOH.
Cathodic
Loading Eonset (V E1/2 (V Limiting current
Materials ORR peak Reference
(mg cm-2) vs.RHE) vs.RHE) density (mA cm-2)
(V vs.RHE)
Table S4. ORR catalytic activities of 20 wt% Pt/C with different loadings on RRDE.
20 wt% Pt/C loading Eonset (V vs. RHE) E1/2 (V vs. RHE) Limiting current
density (mA cm-2)
(mg cm-2)
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Table S5. ORR catalytic activity of Co-N/C-700 compared to previously reported NPMCs materials in
acidic solutions.
Cathodic
Loading Eonset (V E1/2 (V Limiting current
Materials ORR peak Reference
(mg cm-2) vs.RHE) vs.RHE) density (mA cm-2)
(V vs.RHE)
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Table S6. The catalytic performance of Co-N/C-700 compared to previously reported non-noble cathode
Note: OCV stands for the open-circuit voltage; Pmax is the maximum power density.
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Table S7. The relative percentage (%) of various configurations derived from the C 1s, N 1s and Co 2p
Co/N/C(Co-A
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