Caging Porous Co-N-C Nanocomposites in 3D Graphene as Active and Aggregation-Resistant electrocatalyst for Oxygen Reduction Reaction

Authors

Lu-yang XIU
Meng-zhou YU
Peng-ju YANG
Zhi-yu WANG
Jie-shan QIU

Corresponding Author

Zhi-yu WANG;Jie-shan QIU

Abstract

Oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) is the cornerstone reaction of many renewable energy technologies such as fuel cells and rechargeable metal-air batteries. The Pt-based electrocatalysts exhibit the highest activity toward ORR, but their large implementation is greatly prohibiting by unaffordable cost and inferior durability. During electrode manufacturing and electrochemical reaction, severe aggregation of catalyst nanoparticles induced by size effect further limits the operational performance of electrocatalysts. We report a new strategy for fabrication of active and aggregation-resistant ORR electrocatalyst by caging metal-organic frameworks derived Co-N-C nanocomposites in permeable and porous 3D graphene cages via sprayed drying the mixed colloids of ZIF-67 nanoparticles and graphene oxide, followed by annealing. The 3D graphene cages around Co-N-C nanocomposites not only provide a continuous conductive network for charge transfer, but also prevent the active phase from aggregation during electrode manufacturing and electrochemical reactions. When evaluated as an ORR electrocatalyst, the material exhibited comparable activity but superior stability to commercial Pt/C catalyst in an alkaline electrolyte.

Graphical Abstract

Keywords

oxygen reduction reaction, electrocatalyst, 3D graphene, metal-nitrogen-carbon, spray pyrolysis

DOI Link

https://doi.org/10.13208/j.electrochem.180847

Publication Date

2018-12-28

Online Available Date

2018-11-06

Revised Date

2018-10-01

Received Date

2018-09-17

Recommended Citation

Lu-yang XIU, Meng-zhou YU, Peng-ju YANG, Zhi-yu WANG, Jie-shan QIU. Caging Porous Co-N-C Nanocomposites in 3D Graphene as Active and Aggregation-Resistant electrocatalyst for Oxygen Reduction Reaction[J]. Journal of Electrochemistry, 2018 , 24(6): 180847.
DOI: 10.13208/j.electrochem.180847
Available at: https://jelectrochem.xmu.edu.cn/journal/vol24/iss6/22

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