Resorcinol–formaldehyde semiconducting resins as precursors for carbon spheres toward electrocatalytic oxygen reduction†

The carbon spheres synthesized by pyrolysis of resorcinol–formaldehyde (RF) semiconducting resins exhibit enhanced activity for electrocatalytic oxygen reduction. The spheres consist of narrow reticulated carbon layers, which are derived from the donor–acceptor π-stacking interaction of the resins, and show high electron conductivity.