Controlled growth cerium oxide nanoparticles on reduced graphene oxide for oxygen catalytic reduction. (10th February 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Peng, Weidong; Zhao, Longyun; Zhang, Cuiling; Yan, Yinghan; Xian, Yuezhong
• Is Part Of: Electrochimica acta. Volume 191(2016)
• Page Start: 669
• Page End: 676
• Publication Date: 2016-02-10
• Subjects: Oxygen reduction reaction -- Non-precious electrocatalyst -- Graphene -- Cerium oxide nanoparticles -- Thermal treatment; Electrochemistry -- Periodicals; Electrochemistry, Industrial -- Periodicals; 541.37
• DOI: 10.1016/j.electacta.2016.01.129
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0013-4686

Abstract

Graphical abstract: Highlights: Rare earth metal oxide/graphene electrocatalyst with ORR activity was reported. Electrocatalyst was synthesized by thermal treatment of Ce 3+ -doped GO. Crystallization of CeO2 can be controlled through thermal treatment temperature. CeO2 /rGO nanocomposites obtained at 750 °C exhibits superior ORR activity. Synergistic effect of CeO2 and rGO makes catalyst high performance. Abstract: In this paper, a facile and simple strategy was developed for in-situ growth cerium oxide nanoparticles on reduced graphene oxide (rGO) through thermal treatment of the Ce 3+ -doped graphene oxide(GO) under nitrogen atmosphere. Through regulation the thermal treatment temperature, the growth of cerium oxide nanocrystals can be easily controlled in accompany with the reduction of GO. The morphology and chemical composition of the as-synthesized CeO2 /rGO at different temperature are characterized by scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction spectroscopy, Raman spectroscopy, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. The nanocomposites show electrocatalytic activity toward the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) in alkaline solution. Especially, the cerium oxide nanoparticles/rGO nanocomposites treated at 750 °C possess excellent electrocatalytic ability with a dominating four-electron pathway, high tolerance of methanol and long-term operation stability due to the well exfoliation of graphene and perfect crystalline structure of cerium oxide. Compared to the commercial Pt/C catalyst, the synergistic effect of the fast electron transport of rGO and the high electrocatalytic activity of cerium oxide nanocrystals makes the nanocomposites as advanced, non-precious electrocatalysts for ORR.