Issue 10, 2017

Spinel cobalt–manganese oxide supported on non-oxidized carbon nanotubes as a highly efficient oxygen reduction/evolution electrocatalyst

Abstract

We report an in situ preparation of ultrasmall Co–Mn–O spinel nanoparticles (4.4 nm) supported on non-oxidized carbon nanotubes (denoted as CMO@CNTs) as a bifunctional catalyst for oxygen reduction and evolution reactions (ORR/OER). The preparation process involves the oxidization of divalent metal ions under alkaline conditions and the decomposition of nitrates in aqueous solution containing dispersed non-oxidized CNTs. The synthesized CMO nanoparticles strongly couple with the non-oxidized CNTs, which facilitates electron transfer and improves the catalytic activity. Other composites such as CMO@reduced graphene oxide, CMO@Vulcan X-72R, CMO@oxidized CNTs, and a physical mixture of CMO and CNTs were also prepared for comparison. Remarkably, CMO@CNTs exhibit a half wave potential of 0.91 V in 1 M KOH and higher kinetic current and better catalytic durability than Pt/C. Moreover, CMO@CNTs afford an electrocatalytic OER current density of 10 mA cm−2 at a low potential of 1.5 V and a small Tafel slope of 81.1 mV dec−1. Furthermore, CMO@CNTs display lower discharge/charge overpotential and more stable voltage plateau on cycling than that of Pt/C when employed as a cathode material in rechargeable Zn–air cells. This work indicates that CMO@CNTs are a promising, cheap and efficient bifunctional ORR/OER electrocatalyst for rechargeable metal–air batteries.

Graphical abstract: Spinel cobalt–manganese oxide supported on non-oxidized carbon nanotubes as a highly efficient oxygen reduction/evolution electrocatalyst

Supplementary files

Article information

Article type
Research Article
Submitted
28 جوٗن 2017
Accepted
26 جوٗلایی 2017
First published
16 اگست 2017

Inorg. Chem. Front., 2017,4, 1628-1633

Spinel cobalt–manganese oxide supported on non-oxidized carbon nanotubes as a highly efficient oxygen reduction/evolution electrocatalyst

T. Ma, C. Li, X. Chen, F. Cheng and J. Chen, Inorg. Chem. Front., 2017, 4, 1628 DOI: 10.1039/C7QI00367F

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