Issue 7, 2019

N,P-Doped carbon with encapsulated Co nanoparticles as efficient electrocatalysts for oxygen reduction reactions

Abstract

Exploring efficient non-noble ORR catalysts as alternatives to Pt-based catalysts are highly demanded for their possible application in fuel cells and rechargeable metal–air batteries. Herein, we demonstrate a rational design and synthesis of a N, P-doped carbon with encapsulated Co nanoparticles as efficient electrocatalysts for ORR. The catalyst is derived from a mixture of Co-MOF and triphenylphosphine with a mass ratio of 3 : 1 by pyrolysis in N2 atmosphere at 700 °C. The catalyst exhibited a superior ORR catalytic performance among its counterparts in 0.1 M KOH with onset and half-wave potentials of 0.88 V and 0.80 V, a much larger limiting current density of −5.93 mA cm−2 that surpassed commercial 20% Pt/C, in addition to its durability and resistance to methanol. This enhanced ORR activity of the catalyst can be attributed to the synergistic effect between Co NPs and N, P atoms, the relatively large contact surface, more exposed active sites and good electrical conductivity. This study would provide some new ideas for the design and construction of promising carbon-based non-precious metal electrocatalysts for future practical fuel cell applications.

Graphical abstract: N,P-Doped carbon with encapsulated Co nanoparticles as efficient electrocatalysts for oxygen reduction reactions

Supplementary files

Article information

Article type
Paper
Submitted
24 Nov 2018
Accepted
09 Jan 2019
First published
09 Jan 2019

Dalton Trans., 2019,48, 2352-2358

N,P-Doped carbon with encapsulated Co nanoparticles as efficient electrocatalysts for oxygen reduction reactions

L. Fan, X. Du, Y. Zhang, M. Li, M. Wen, X. Ge, Z. Kang and D. Sun, Dalton Trans., 2019, 48, 2352 DOI: 10.1039/C8DT04650F

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