Issue 29, 2016

Emerging new generation electrocatalysts for the oxygen reduction reaction

Abstract

The design and development of a new economically viable electrocatalyst for the cathodic reduction of oxygen in fuel cells and metal–air batteries is of significant interest. The high cost, scarcity and lack of durability of traditional Pt-based electrocatalysts limit the widespread implementation of fuel cells for practical applications. The emergence of non-Pt and metal-free electrocatalysts for the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) is promising in the development of energy conversion devices. In this review, we discuss the emerging new electrocatalysts, non-precious transition metals, metal nitrides and carbides and the nanoscale carbon-based metal-free electrocatalysts, for the ORR. Although the actual ORR mechanism and the active site of these catalysts are not well understood, their catalytic activity is undoubtful. The porosity and chemical and electronic environments of the catalysts control their activity. The activity of these catalysts is discussed in terms of onset potential, durability and their tolerance towards anode fuels. The metal-free heteroatom-doped carbon-based electrocatalysts are highly active in alkaline medium, paving the way for the development of alkaline fuel cells, though their long time durability in an actual fuel cell stack is not well explored. The challenges in the use of these catalysts and the lack of fundamental understanding of the catalytic activity are addressed.

Graphical abstract: Emerging new generation electrocatalysts for the oxygen reduction reaction

Article information

Article type
Review Article
Submitted
20 Apr 2016
Accepted
10 Jun 2016
First published
10 Jun 2016

J. Mater. Chem. A, 2016,4, 11156-11178

Emerging new generation electrocatalysts for the oxygen reduction reaction

C. R. Raj, A. Samanta, S. H. Noh, S. Mondal, T. Okajima and T. Ohsaka, J. Mater. Chem. A, 2016, 4, 11156 DOI: 10.1039/C6TA03300H

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