Local electronic structure and activity of nitrogen-doped carbon

Nitrogen-doped carbon materials show activity as a base catalyst and an oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) electro catalyst. The origin of the activity at the atomic level has not been known for a long time. Recently, the local electronic structure of nitrogen-doped carbon surfaces has been analyzed directly by scanning tunneling spectroscopy (STS), which clearly reveals specific electronic states such as edge states or non-bonding orbitals. Here, we summarize the current understanding of the activity of nitrogen-doped graphitic carbons and their electronic structures.