Bifunctional Electrocatalytic Activity of Boron‐Doped Graphene Derived from Boron Carbide. Issue 17 (25th June 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Vineesh, Thazhe Veettil; Kumar, M. Praveen; Takahashi, Chisato; Kalita, Golap; Alwarappan, Subbiah; Pattanayak, Deepak K.; Narayanan, Tharangattu N.
• Is Part Of: Advanced energy materials. Volume 5:Issue 17(2015:Sep.)
• Page Start: n/a
• Page End: n/a
• Publication Date: 2015-06-25
• Subjects: Energy harvesting -- Materials -- Periodicals; Energy conversion -- Materials -- Periodicals; Energy storage -- Materials -- Periodicals; Photovoltaics -- Periodicals; Fuel cells -- Periodicals; Thermoelectric materials -- Periodicals; 621.31
• DOI: 10.1002/aenm.201500658
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1614-6832

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="main" xml:lang="en"> <title> <x xml:space="preserve">Abstract</x> </title> <p>A single material that can perform water oxidation and oxygen reduction reactions (ORR), also called bifunctional catalyst, represents a novel concept that emerged from recent materials research and that has led to applications in new‐generation energy‐storage systems, such as regenerative fuel cells. Here, metal/metal‐oxide free, doped graphene derived from rhombohedral boron carbide (B<sub>4</sub>C) is demonstrated to be an effective bifunctional catalyst for the first time. B<sub>4</sub>C, one of the hardest materials in nature next to diamond and cubic boron nitride, is converted and separated in bulk to form heteroatom (boron, B) doped graphene (BG, yield ≈7% by weight, after the first cycle). This structural conversion of B<sub>4</sub>C to graphene is accompanied by in situ boron doping and results in the formation of an electrochemically active material from a non‐electrochemically active material, broadening its potential for application in various energy‐related technologies. The electrocatalytic efficacy of BG is studied using various voltammetric techniques. The results show a four‐electron transfer mechanism as well as a high methanol tolerance and stability towards ORR. The results are comparable to those from commercial 20 wt% Pt/C in terms of performance. Furthermore, the bifunctionality of the BG is also demonstrated by its performance in water oxidation.</p> </abstract>