Issue 34, 2015

A N-, Fe- and Co-tridoped carbon nanotube/nanoporous carbon nanocomposite with synergistically enhanced activity for oxygen reduction in acidic media

Abstract

Electrocatalysts for the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) in acidic media are crucial in proton-exchange membrane (PEM) fuel cells and other electrochemical devices. Achieving ideal ORR activity and durability in acidic media remains a challenge. Here, we developed a new NFeCo-CNT/NC nanocomposite electrocatalyst from the highly available and recyclable plant biomass Typha orientalis using a readily scalable approach. The electrocatalyst exhibits excellent ORR activity, superior stability and tolerance to methanol poisoning effects in acidic media. The value of the onset potential and half-peak potential of the typical product is only 70 mV and 65 mV less than that of Pt/C, respectively. The NFeCo-CNT and NFeCo-NC in the nanocomposite have synergistically enhanced ORR activities. The catalyst may have practical applications in fuel cells. One of the important accomplishments of this work is the discovery that trace Fe3+ and Co2+ can synergistically catalyze the growth of the carbon nanotubes when melamine serves as the CNT precursor.

Graphical abstract: A N-, Fe- and Co-tridoped carbon nanotube/nanoporous carbon nanocomposite with synergistically enhanced activity for oxygen reduction in acidic media

Supplementary files

Article information

Article type
Paper
Submitted
13 May 2015
Accepted
27 Jul 2015
First published
06 Aug 2015

J. Mater. Chem. A, 2015,3, 17866-17873

Author version available

A N-, Fe- and Co-tridoped carbon nanotube/nanoporous carbon nanocomposite with synergistically enhanced activity for oxygen reduction in acidic media

G. Wang, W. Wang, L. Wang, W. Yao, P. Yao, W. Zhu, P. Chen and Q. Wu, J. Mater. Chem. A, 2015, 3, 17866 DOI: 10.1039/C5TA03523F

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