Issue 31, 2014

Conversion of polystyrene foam to a high-performance doped carbon catalyst with ultrahigh surface area and hierarchical porous structures for oxygen reduction

Abstract

A high-performance doped carbon catalyst with ultrahigh surface area (1123 m2 g−1) and hierarchical porous structures was prepared through an economical, non-template pyrolyzing approach using cross-linked polystyrene, melamine and iron chloride as precursors. The catalyst exhibits excellent oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) performance, outstanding methanol tolerance, remarkable stability, and high catalytic efficiency (nearly 100% selectivity for the four-electron ORR process). Remarkably, its ORR activity can even surpass that of the commercial Pt/C catalyst in alkaline media, with a half-wave potential 20 mV more positive. To the best of our knowledge, it is also one of the most active ORR catalysts in alkaline media to date. By investigating the effects of N dopants and Fe residue on the catalyst's ORR performance, we find that residual Fe is as important as doped nitrogen in enhancing the ORR performance. The catalyst's high ORR performance, outstanding stability and excellent methanol tolerance, combined with its hierarchical porous morphology, make it promising for the application in novel, environmentally friendly electrochemical energy systems. This research also provides a potential way to turn waste into wealth.

Graphical abstract: Conversion of polystyrene foam to a high-performance doped carbon catalyst with ultrahigh surface area and hierarchical porous structures for oxygen reduction

Supplementary files

Article information

Article type
Paper
Submitted
04 ሜይ 2014
Accepted
05 ጁን 2014
First published
05 ጁን 2014

J. Mater. Chem. A, 2014,2, 12240-12246

Author version available

Conversion of polystyrene foam to a high-performance doped carbon catalyst with ultrahigh surface area and hierarchical porous structures for oxygen reduction

C. You, S. Liao, X. Qiao, X. Zeng, F. Liu, R. Zheng, H. Song, J. Zeng and Y. Li, J. Mater. Chem. A, 2014, 2, 12240 DOI: 10.1039/C4TA02225D

To request permission to reproduce material from this article, please go to the Copyright Clearance Center request page.

If you are an author contributing to an RSC publication, you do not need to request permission provided correct acknowledgement is given.

If you are the author of this article, you do not need to request permission to reproduce figures and diagrams provided correct acknowledgement is given. If you want to reproduce the whole article in a third-party publication (excluding your thesis/dissertation for which permission is not required) please go to the Copyright Clearance Center request page.

Read more about how to correctly acknowledge RSC content.

Social activity

Spotlight

Advertisements