A Polymer Encapsulation Strategy to Synthesize Porous Nitrogen‐Doped Carbon‐Nanosphere‐Supported Metal Isolated‐Single‐Atomic‐Site Catalysts. Issue 15 (6th March 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Han, Aijuan; Chen, Wenxing; Zhang, Shaolong; Zhang, Maolin; Han, Yunhu; Zhang, Jian; Ji, Shufang; Zheng, Lirong; Wang, Yu; Gu, Lin; Chen, Chen; Peng, Qing; Wang, Dingsheng; Li, Yadong
• Is Part Of: Advanced materials. Volume 30:Issue 15(2018)
• Page Start: n/a
• Page End: n/a
• Publication Date: 2018-03-06
• Subjects: isolated‐single‐atomic‐site -- oxygen reduction reaction -- polymer -- porous nitrogen‐doped carbon; Materials -- Periodicals; Chemical vapor deposition -- Periodicals; 620.11
• DOI: 10.1002/adma.201706508
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0935-9648

Abstract

Abstract: A novel polymer encapsulation strategy to synthesize metal isolated‐single‐atomic‐site (ISAS) catalysts supported by porous nitrogen‐doped carbon nanospheres is reported. First, metal precursors are encapsulated in situ by polymers through polymerization; then, metal ISASs are created within the polymer‐derived p‐CN nanospheres by controlled pyrolysis at high temperature (200–900 °C). Transmission electron microscopy and N2 sorption results reveal this material to exhibit a nanospheric morphology, a high surface area (≈380 m 2 g −1 ), and a porous structure (with micropores and mesopores). Characterization by aberration‐corrected high‐angle annular dark‐field scanning transmission electron microscopy and X‐ray absorption fine structure confirms the metal to be present as metal ISASs. This methodology is applicable to both noble and nonprecious metals (M‐ISAS/p‐CN, M = Co, Ni, Cu, Mn, Pd, etc.). In particular, the Co‐ISAS/p‐CN nanospheres obtained using this method show comparable ( E 1/2 = 0.838 V) electrochemical oxygen reduction activity to commercial Pt/C with 20 wt% Pt loading ( E 1/2 = 0.834 V) in alkaline media, superior methanol tolerance, and outstanding stability, even after 5000 cycles. Abstract : Metal isolated‐single‐atomic‐site catalysts supported by porous nitrogen‐doped carbon‐nanospheres are synthesized by a novel polymer encapsulation strategy, which is applicable to both nonprecious and noble metals (M‐ISAS/p‐CN, M = Co, Ni, Cu, Mn, Pd, etc.). In particular, the Co‐ISAS/p‐CN catalyst synthesized in this manner is found to exhibit comparable electrochemical oxygen reduction activity to commercial 20 wt% Pt/C in alkaline media.