Boosting Electrocatalytic Activity of Nitrogen-Doped Graphene/Carbon Nanotube Composite for Oxygen Reduction Reaction

Authors

Yu ZHANG, Beijing National Laboratory for Molecular Sciences, Key Laboratory of Molecular Nanostructure and Nanotechnology, Institute of Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190, China;State Key Laboratory of Power Transmission Equipment & System Security and New Technology, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Chongqing University, Chongqing 400044, China;
Jin-song HU, Beijing National Laboratory for Molecular Sciences, Key Laboratory of Molecular Nanostructure and Nanotechnology, Institute of Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190, China;Follow
Wen-jie JIANG, Beijing National Laboratory for Molecular Sciences, Key Laboratory of Molecular Nanostructure and Nanotechnology, Institute of Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190, China;State Key Laboratory of Power Transmission Equipment & System Security and New Technology, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Chongqing University, Chongqing 400044, China;
Lin GUO, Beijing National Laboratory for Molecular Sciences, Key Laboratory of Molecular Nanostructure and Nanotechnology, Institute of Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190, China;State Key Laboratory of Power Transmission Equipment & System Security and New Technology, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Chongqing University, Chongqing 400044, China;
Zi-dong WEI, State Key Laboratory of Power Transmission Equipment & System Security and New Technology, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Chongqing University, Chongqing 400044, China;Follow
Li-jun WAN, Beijing National Laboratory for Molecular Sciences, Key Laboratory of Molecular Nanostructure and Nanotechnology, Institute of Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190, China;

Corresponding Author

Jin-song HU(hujs@iccas.ac.cn);
Zi-dong WEI(zdwei@cqu.edu.cn)

Abstract

Developing low-cost catalysts with high electrocatalytic activity for oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) has recently attracted much attention because the sluggish ORR currently limits the performance and commercialization of fuel cells and metal-air batteries as well. Nitrogen doped carbon materials have been considered as a promising candidate for the replacement of high-cost and scarce Pt-based catalysts although their electrocatalytic activity still needs to be much improved. In this work, an improved nitrogen-doped graphene/carbon nanotubes composite (N-rGO/CNT) was developed as an efficient ORR electrocatalyst. It was found that the ORR activity of N-rGO/CNT composite could be significantly enhanced by introducing iron in nitrogen-doping process, and further boosted by constructing nanopores in catalysts for allowing more catalytically active sites accessible and enhancing mass transfer. Moreover, the electrochemical measurement showed that the improved catalysts exhibited superior tolerance to methanol crossover and good durability, indicating their potential as ORR catalysts for energy conversion and storage applications.

Graphical Abstract

Keywords

graphene, carbon nanotubes, electrocatalysts, oxygen reduction reaction, mesoporous

DOI Link

https://doi.org/10.13208/j.electrochem.131178

Publication Date

2014-10-28

Online Available Date

2014-04-28

Revised Date

2014-04-23

Received Date

2014-03-13

Recommended Citation

Yu ZHANG, Jin-song HU, Wen-jie JIANG, Lin GUO, Zi-dong WEI, Li-jun WAN. Boosting Electrocatalytic Activity of Nitrogen-Doped Graphene/Carbon Nanotube Composite for Oxygen Reduction Reaction[J]. Journal of Electrochemistry, 2014 , 20(5): 401-409.
DOI: 10.13208/j.electrochem.131178
Available at: https://jelectrochem.xmu.edu.cn/journal/vol20/iss5/2