Electrochemical Preparation of N‐Doped Cobalt Oxide Nanoparticles with High Electrocatalytic Activity for the Oxygen‐Reduction Reaction. Issue 12 (24th February 2014)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Yu, Hongtao; Li, Yunchao; Li, Xiaohong; Fan, Louzhen; Yang, Shihe
• Is Part Of: Chemistry. Volume 20:Issue 12(2014)
• Page Start: 3457
• Page End: 3462
• Publication Date: 2014-02-24
• Subjects: Chemistry -- Periodicals; 540
• DOI: 10.1002/chem.201303814
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0947-6539

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="main" xml:lang="en"> <title>Abstract</title> <p>Nitrogen‐doped CoO (N‐CoO) nanoparticles with high electrocatalytic activity for the oxygen‐reduction reaction (ORR) were fabricated by electrochemical reduction of CoCl₂ in acetonitrile solution at cathodic potentials. The initially generated, highly reactive nitrogen‐doped Co nanoparticles were readily oxidized to N‐CoO nanoparticles in air. In contrast to their N‐free counterparts (CoO or Co₃O₄), N‐CoO nanoparticles with a N content of about 4.6 % exhibit remarkable ORR electrocatalytic activity, stability, and immunity to methanol crossover in an alkaline medium. The CoN_{<italic>x</italic>} active sites in the CoO nanoparticles are held responsible for the high ORR activity. This work opens a new path for the preparation of nitrogen‐doped transition metal oxide nanomaterials, which are promising electrocatalysts for fuel cells.</p> </abstract>