In-situ Preparation and Electrocatalytic Oxygen Reduction Performance of N-doped Graphene@CNF

doi:10.15541/jim20150400

Abstract

Abstract:

By combining the techniques of electrospinning and heat-treatment, N-doped graphene (NG) were in situ grown on cobalt-containing electronspun carbon nanofibers (CNF) to form three-dimensional (3D) interconnected fiber network structure. The effect of cobalt (Co) content on the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) activity of the as-prepared samples was studied. It is demonstrated that both the formation of NG and introduction of Co significantly increase the electrocatalytic activity. The hybrid shows optimized ORR performance when the weight ratio of Co(NO₃)₂·6H₂O to PAN in electronspun solution is 1: 10. The as-obtained catalyst exhibits superior ORR catalytic performance with onset potential of 0.84 V (vs RHE), near four electron transfer pathway. In addition, the sample presents better stability and methanol tolerance than Pt/C in alkaline media. As-obtained interconnected fiber networks facilitate electron and mass transfer to provide more active sites, favorable to the enhancement of electrocatalytic activity. This strategy is also available to prepare other 3D interconnected fiber composites for using in energy and environmental fields.

Key words: oxygen reduction reaction, N-doped graphene, in situ-preparation, 3D interconnected fiber network

CLC Number:

TQ174

SHI Qi, LEI Yong-Peng, WANG Ying-De, WANG Zhong-Min. In-situ Preparation and Electrocatalytic Oxygen Reduction Performance of N-doped Graphene@CNF[J]. Journal of Inorganic Materials, 2016, 31(4): 351-357.

Figures/Tables 7

Fig. 1 Schematic illustration for the preparation of NG@CNF-Cox

Fig. 2 (a) Polarization curves at 1600 r/min of different samples, (b) polarization curves at different rotating speeds and (c) the corresponding K-L plots of NG@CNF-Co10, (d) electron transfer number of different samples from 0.29 V to 0.49 V

Fig. 3 Durability and methanol tolerance of (a) NG@CNF-Co10 and (b) Pt/C

Fig. 4 SEM images of CNF and NG@CNF-Co10 (inset)

Fig. 5 Nitrogen adsorption-desorption isotherm at 77 K (inset) and pore size distribution of NG@CNF-Co10

Fig. 6 (a) XRD pattern, (b) Raman spectrum and (c) TGA curve of NG@CNF-Co10

Fig. 7 (a) XPS survey and corresponding high-resolution (b) N1s (c) Co2p and (d) C1s spectra of NG@CNF-Co10

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