Issue 26, 2017

Hierarchically tubular nitrogen-doped carbon structures for the oxygen reduction reaction

Abstract

Rational design and synthesis of nitrogen-doped carbon structures are promising for renewable energy applications such as the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR). Here we develop a hierarchically tubular nitrogen-doped carbon structure by a simultaneous etching and regrowth method, using Cu2O nanowires as sacrificial templates. This hierarchical structure presents a large surface area (398 m2 g−1), attributed to the numerous tiny nanotubes grown on the surface of the hierarchical structure. In addition, a high nitrogen doping ratio (8.03%) with major pyridinic and graphitic nitrogen atoms is obtained, via the Cu–N interaction from original Cu2O templates. This hierarchically tubular carbon structure exhibits excellent ORR catalytic activity, with high onset and half-wave potentials, large limiting current densities, and good stability.

Graphical abstract: Hierarchically tubular nitrogen-doped carbon structures for the oxygen reduction reaction

Supplementary files

Article information

Article type
Paper
Submitted
27 Mar 2017
Accepted
25 May 2017
First published
26 May 2017

J. Mater. Chem. A, 2017,5, 13634-13638

Hierarchically tubular nitrogen-doped carbon structures for the oxygen reduction reaction

W. Wei, H. Ge, L. Huang, M. Kuang, A. M. Al-Enizi, L. Zhang and G. Zheng, J. Mater. Chem. A, 2017, 5, 13634 DOI: 10.1039/C7TA02658G

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