scholarly journals Facile Synthesis of the Amorphous Carbon Coated Fe-N-C Nanocatalyst with Efficient Activity for Oxygen Reduction Reaction in Acidic and Alkaline Media

Materials ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 13 (20) ◽  
pp. 4551 ◽  
Author(s):  
Linglei Jin ◽  
Baikang Zhu ◽  
Xuesong Wang ◽  
Le Zhang ◽  
Debin Song ◽  
...  

With the assistance of surfactant, Fe nanoparticles are supported on g-C3N4 nanosheets by a simple one-step calcination strategy. Meanwhile, a layer of amorphous carbon is coated on the surface of Fe nanoparticles during calcination. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM), scanning electron microscope (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and inductively coupled plasma (ICP) were used to characterize the morphology, structure, and composition of the catalysts. By electrochemical evaluate methods, such as linear sweep voltammetry (LSV) and cyclic voltammetry (CV), it can be found that Fe25-N-C-800 (calcinated in 800 °C, Fe loading content is 5.35 wt.%) exhibits excellent oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) activity and selectivity. In 0.1 M KOH (potassium hydroxide solution), compared with the 20 wt.% Pt/C, Fe25-N-C-800 performs larger onset potential (0.925 V versus the reversible hydrogen electrode (RHE)) and half-wave potential (0.864 V vs. RHE) and limits current density (2.90 mA cm−2, at 400 rpm). In 0.1 M HClO4, it also exhibits comparable activity. Furthermore, the Fe25-N-C-800 displays more excellent stability and methanol tolerance than Pt/C. Therefore, due to convenience synthesis strategy and excellent catalytic activity, the Fe25-N-C-800 will adapt to a suitable candidate for non-noble metal ORR catalyst in fuel cells.

Author(s):  
Chakkrapong Chaiburi ◽  
Bernd Cermenek ◽  
Birgit Elvira Pichler ◽  
Christoph Grimmer ◽  
Viktor Hacker

This paper describes electrocatalysts for the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) in alkaline direct ethanol fuel cells (ADEFCs), using the non-noble metal electrocatalyst Ag/C, MnO2/C and AgMnO2/C. These electrocatalysts showed tolerance toward ethanol in alkaline media and therefore resistance to ethanol crossover in ADEFCs. Transmission electron microscopy, X-ray spectroscopy (EDX), cyclic voltammetry, and rotating disk electrode (RDE) were employed to determine the morphology, composition, and electrochemical activity of the catalysts. The herein presented results confirm that the AgMnO2/C electrocatalyst significantly outperforms the state-of-the art ORR catalyst platinum.


Catalysts ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (7) ◽  
pp. 799 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rehan Anwar ◽  
Naseem Iqbal ◽  
Saadia Hanif ◽  
Tayyaba Noor ◽  
Xuan Shi ◽  
...  

Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) have been at the center stage of material science in the recent past because of their structural properties and wide applications in catalysis. MOFs have also been used as hard templates for the preparation of catalysts. In this study, highly active CuPt/NC electrocatalyst was synthesized by pyrolyzing Cu-tpa MOF along with Pt precursor under flowing Ar-H2 atmosphere. The catalyst was characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and X-ray powder diffraction (XRD). Rotating disk electrode study was performed to determine the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) activity for CuPt/NC in 0.1 M HClO4 at different revolutions per minute (400, 800, 1200, and 1600) and it was also compared with commercial Pt/C catalyst. Further the ORR performance was evaluated by K-L plots and Tafel slope. CuPt/NC shows excellent ORR performance with onset potential of 0.9 V (vs. RHE), which is comparable with commercial Pt/C. The ORR activity of CuPt/NC is demonstrated as an efficient electrocatalyst for fuel cell.


Energies ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 12 (20) ◽  
pp. 3846 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xiao Luo ◽  
Wuli Han ◽  
Han Ren ◽  
Qingzuo Zhuang

Oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) provides a vital role for microbial fuel cells (MFCs) due to its slow reaction kinetics compared with the anodic oxidation reaction. How to develop new materials with low cost, high efficacy, and eco-friendliness which could replace platinum-based electrocatalysis is a challenge that we have to resolve. In this work, we accomplished this successfully by means of a facile strategy to synthesize a metallic organic framework-derived Fe, N, S co-doped carbon with FeS as the main phase. The Fe/S@N/C-0.5 catalyst demonstrated outstandingly enhanced ORR activity in neutral PBS and alkaline media, compared to that of commercial 20% Pt-C catalyst. Here, we started-up and operated two parallel single-chamber microbial fuel cells of an air cathode, and those cathode catalysts were Fe/S@N/C-0.5 and commercial Pt-C (20% Pt), respectively. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) elaborated that the Fe/S@N/C-0.5 composite did not change the polyhedron morphology of ZIF-8. According to X-ray diffractometry(XRD) curves, the main crystal phase of the resulted Fe/S@N/C-0.5 was FeS. The chemical environment of N, S, and Fe which are anticipated to be the high-efficiency active sites of ORR for MFCs were investigated by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopic(XPS). Nitrogen adsorption/desorption techniques were used to calculate the pore diameter distribution. In brief, the obtained Fe/S@N/C-0.5 material exhibited a pronounced reduction potential at 0.861 V (versus Reversible Hydrogen Electrode(RHE)) in 0.1M KOH solution and –0.03 V (vs. SCE) in the PBS solution, which both outperform the benchmark platinum-based catalysts. Fe/S@N/C-0.5-MFC had a higher Open Circuit Voltage(OCV) (0.71 V), stronger maximum power density (1196 mW/m2), and larger output voltage (0.47 V) than the Pt/C-MFC under the same conditions.


NANO ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 11 (11) ◽  
pp. 1650126 ◽  
Author(s):  
GuanHua Jin ◽  
Suqin Liu ◽  
Yaomin Li ◽  
Yang Guo ◽  
Zhiying Ding

Development of efficient electrocatalysts for the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) remains a key issue for the commercialization of metal-air batteries. In this study, the novel structured Co3O4 nanoparticles-modified [Formula: see text]-MnO2 nanorods supported on reduced graphene oxide (Co3O4-MnO2/rGO) were synthesized with varying amounts of [Formula: see text]-MnO2 via a facile two-step hydrothermal method. The relationship between the physical properties and the electrochemical results was investigated using X-ray diffraction spectrum, scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, Raman spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, cyclic voltammograms, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy and rotating disk electrode. The as-prepared Co3O4–MnO2 nanohybrid exhibits enhanced catalytic activity for ORR under alkaline condition compared with MnO2/rGO and Co3O4/rGO. Furthermore, it mainly favors a direct 4e-reaction pathway for ORR, which is attributed to the well-designed structure, the synergistic effect between Co3O4 and [Formula: see text]-MnO2, and the covalent coupling between the Co3O4-MnO2 and reduced graphene oxide. The role of Co3O4 in Co3O4–MnO2 hybrid for catalyzing ORR also has been illustrated by varying the mass ratio of Co3O4 and MnO2, which reveals that the Co3O4–MnO2 with the ratio of 1:1 has better catalytic activity.


RSC Advances ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 6 (15) ◽  
pp. 12627-12637 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yaovi Holade ◽  
Christine Canaff ◽  
Suzie Poulin ◽  
Têko W. Napporn ◽  
Karine Servat ◽  
...  

The nature of the reduction agent changes drastically the palladium nanomaterials chemical stability, which subsequently alters earnestly their catalytic performances.


2011 ◽  
Vol 14 (2) ◽  
pp. 81-85 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. A. Garcia-Contreras ◽  
S. M. Fernandez-Valverde ◽  
J. R. Vargas-Garcia

CoNi and PtNi film electrocatalysts were prepared by Metal-Organic Chemical Vapour Deposition (MOCVD) and their electrocatalytic activity for the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) in 0.5 M KOH was investigated by cyclic voltammetry and Rotating Disk Electrode techniques. Experiments included working electrodes of Co, Ni and Pt prepared also by MOCVD for comparison. The film electrocatalysts were characterized by X-ray diffraction, Scanning Electronic Microscopy and Energy dispersive X-ray analysis. Films thickness was about 200-250 nm and nanocrystallites were found in the range of 12 to 30 nm. In the same experimental conditions, the overpotential for the ORR at a current density of 1 mA cm-2 for PtNi film was 120 mV lower than the overpotential of Pt film electrocatalyst, and an enhanced activity was observed on PtNi with respect to Pt. The electrochemical response for the oxygen reduction reaction on CoNi film was higher than those of elemental Ni and Co films obtained by MOCVD. A good stability was obtained in a chronoamperometry test for the PtNi electrode, only affected by oxygen flow variations.


2020 ◽  
Vol 7 ◽  
Author(s):  
B. Aghabarari ◽  
M. V. Martínez-Huerta ◽  
M. C. Capel-Sánchez ◽  
M. J. Lázaro

The development of active and low-cost electrocatalysts for the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) is crucial for the sustainable commercialization of fuel cell technologies. In this study, we have synthetized Me/Mo2C (Me = Fe, Co, Cu)-based composites embedded in N- and P-dual doped carbon by means of inexpensive industrial materials, such as melamine and chitosan, as C and N sources, and the heteropolyacid H3PMo12O40 as P and Mo precursor. The effect of the transition metal (Fe, Co, and Cu) on the ORR in alkaline medium has been investigated. The physicochemical properties of the electrocatalysts were performed by X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), Raman spectroscopy, and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Activity towards ORR was carried out in a three-electrode cell using a ring-disk electrode in 0.1M NaOH. The results obtained clearly show the important role played by each transition metal (Fe, Co, and Cu) in the electrochemical activity. Among them, Fe gives rise to the best performing composite in carrying out the oxygen reduction reaction. The formation Fe3C/Mo2C species embedded in N- and P-dual doped carbon seems to be the determining role in the increase of the ORR performance.


Author(s):  
Nan Cui ◽  
Zengfeng Guo ◽  
Wenpeng Li ◽  
Xun Xu ◽  
Hongxia Zhao ◽  
...  

In this paper, we first report that WOx contained nanoalloys exhibit stable electrocatalytic performance in alkaline media, though bulk WO3 are easy to be dissolved in NaOH solutions. Carbon supported oxide-rich Pd-W alloy nanoparticles (PdW/C) with different Pd:W atom ratios were prepared by reduction-oxidation method. Among the catalysts, the oxide-rich Pd0.8W0.2/C (Pd/W = 8:2, atom ratio) exhibits the highest catalytic activity for oxygen reduction reaction. The X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy data shows that ~40% of Pd atoms and ~60% of the W atoms are in their oxides form. The Pd 3d5/2 peaks in oxide-rich Pd-W nanoalloys are positive shift compared with that of Pd/C, which indicates the electronic structure of Pd is affected by the strong interaction between Pd and W/WO3. Compare to Pd/C, the onset potential of oxygen reduction reaction at the oxide-rich Pd0.8W0.2/C is positive shifted. The current density (mA·mg Pd−1) at the oxide-rich Pd0.8W0.2/C is ~1.6 times of that at Pd/C. The oxide-rich Pd0.8W0.2/C also exhibits higher catalytic stability than Pd/C, which demonstrate that it is a prospective candidate for the cathode of fuel cells operated with alkaline electrolyte.


ACS Omega ◽  
2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joesene Soto-Pérez ◽  
Luis E. Betancourt ◽  
Pedro Trinidad ◽  
Eduardo Larios ◽  
Arnulfo Rojas-Pérez ◽  
...  

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