Ionic liquid derived carbons as highly efficient oxygen reduction catalysts: first elucidation of pore size distribution dependent kinetics.

Metal-free N-doped carbons with controllable pore texture were derived from carbonization of ionic liquid and served as catalysts for oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) with an activity comparable to that of Pt/C. The investigation shows that both the ORR activity and kinetics are strongly correlated with the pore size distribution.