Cobalt-Based Nitrogen-Doped Carbon Non-Noble Metal Catalysts for Oxygen Reduction Reaction

Authors

Meng-xiu JIANG, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering，Taiyuan University of Technology，Taiyuan 030024，Shanxi，China;
Jing ZHANG, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering，Taiyuan University of Technology，Taiyuan 030024，Shanxi，China;
Yue-hua LI, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering，Taiyuan University of Technology，Taiyuan 030024，Shanxi，China;
Rong ZHANG, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering，Taiyuan University of Technology，Taiyuan 030024，Shanxi，China;Follow

Corresponding Author

Rong ZHANG(zhangrong@tyut.edu.cn)

Abstract

Transition metal-nitrogen co-doped carbon catalysts have attracted significant attention because of their reasonable activity and remarkable selectivity toward oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) as cathodic reaction in fuel cells. However, the role of transition metal in the active sites of the catalysts still is uncertain. In this work, the Co_x-N_y/C-T catalysts were prepared with BP2000 as a carbon source, urea (Ur) as a nitrogen source and Co(OAc)₂•4H₂O as a metal precursor by a simple chemical method. Meanwhile, in order to optimize the ORR activity, the catalysts were synthesized with different amounts of Co and urea, and heat-treated at different temperatures from 600-1000 ℃. SEM, TEM, BET, XRD and XPS techniques were used to characterize the catalysts in terms of structures and compositions, as well as the catalytic active sites. CV and LSV were measured to compare the ORR activity and to obtain the electron transfer number. The peak potential for oxygen reduction was approximately 0.829 V (vs. RHE) on the optimum Co_0.13-N_0.3/C-800 catalyst in an alkaline electrolyte. The results indicated that Co-N-C was potentially catalytic active site and responsible for the ORR catalytic activity in an alkaline electrolyte. The overall electron transfer number for ORR catalyzed by the optimum Co-N/C catalyst was determined to be 3.7, suggesting that the ORR catalyzed by Co-N/C was a mixture of 2- and 4-electron transfer pathways, dominated by a 4-electron transfer process. Furthermore, the Co_x-N_y/C-T catalysts also exhibited excellent methanol tolerance and stability.

Graphical Abstract

Keywords

Cobalt-based nitrogen-doped carbon catalyst, electrocatalysis；oxygen reduction reaction, catalytic active site, heat-treatment

DOI Link

https://doi.org/10.13208/j.electrochem.170105

Publication Date

2017-12-28

Online Available Date

2017-03-06

Revised Date

2017-02-28

Received Date

2017-01-05

Recommended Citation

Meng-xiu JIANG, Jing ZHANG, Yue-hua LI, Rong ZHANG. Cobalt-Based Nitrogen-Doped Carbon Non-Noble Metal Catalysts for Oxygen Reduction Reaction[J]. Journal of Electrochemistry, 2017 , 23(6): 627-637.
DOI: 10.13208/j.electrochem.170105
Available at: https://jelectrochem.xmu.edu.cn/journal/vol23/iss6/2