An attempt to confirm the contribution to ORR activity of different N-species in M-NC (M = Fe, Co, Ni) catalysts with XPS analysis.

M-NC catalysts were prepared by a combination of the electrospinning method and thermal treatment. For the first time, the contribution of N-species to the ORR (oxygen reduction reaction) of the M-NC was analysed using XPS (X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy). The obtained relations were verified by VASP (Vienna Ab-initio Simulation Package).