High catalytic activity of Co3O4 nanoparticles encapsulated in a graphene supported carbon matrix for oxygen reduction reaction. Issue 55 (23rd May 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Xie, Guiting; Chen, Bohong; Jiang, Zhongqing; Niu, Xiaojun; Cheng, Si; Zhen, Zihao; Jiang, Yu; Rong, Haibo; Jiang, Zhong-Jie
• Is Part Of: RSC advances. Volume 6:Issue 55(2016)
• Page Start: 50349
• Page End: 50357
• Publication Date: 2016-05-23
• Subjects: Chemistry -- Periodicals; 540.5
• DOI: 10.1039/c6ra09528c
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2046-2069

Abstract

Abstract : A simple method has been adopted for the synthesis of Co3 O4 nanoparticles encapsulated in graphene supported carbon matrix, which could exhibit higher catalytic performance for oxygen reduction reaction than the commercial Pt/C. Abstract : A simple method, i.e. the calcination of a mixture of Co(NO3 )2, PEG-PPG-PEG Pluronic® P-123, and melamine in the presence of graphene oxide (GO), has been adopted for the synthesis of Co3 O4 nanoparticles encapsulated in a graphene supported carbon matrix (Co3 O4 @C/graphene). It shows that the co-existence of P123, melamine, and GO was crucial to obtain the small sized Co3 O4 nanoparticles encapsulated in the graphene supported carbon matrix. The resulting Co3 O4 @C/graphene was found to be highly active for the oxygen reduction reaction and exhibited higher electrocatalytic activity and better stability than the commercial Pt/C with 20 wt% Pt loading. Their high electrocatalytic activity could be attributed to the synergistic coupling between Co3 O4 and the nitrogen-doped carbon matrix/graphene, the small Co3 O4 nanoparticle size, and the presence of the nitrogen doped porous carbon matrix and the carbon encapsulated structure, which make the Co3 O4 @C/graphene kinetically facile and highly stable during complicated electrochemical processes.