Low‐Cost Chitosan‐Derived N‐Doped Carbons Boost Electrocatalytic Activity of Multiwall Carbon Nanotubes. (14th February 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Qiao, Mo; Meysami, Seyyed Shayan; Ferrero, Guillermo Alvarez; Xie, Fei; Meng, Han; Grobert, Nicole; Titirici, Maria‐Magdalena
• Is Part Of: Advanced functional materials. Volume 28:Number 16(2018)
• Page Start: n/a
• Page End: n/a
• Publication Date: 2018-02-14
• Subjects: hydrothermal carbonisation -- interface manipulation -- MWCNTs -- nanocomposites -- oxygen reduction reaction; Materials -- Periodicals; Chemical vapor deposition -- Periodicals; 620.11
• DOI: 10.1002/adfm.201707284
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1616-301X

Abstract

Abstract: An effective strategy is proposed to enhance the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) performance of multiwall carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) in both acid and alkaline electrolytes by coating them with a layer of biomass derivative N‐doped hydrothermal carbons. The N‐doped amorphous carbon coating plays triple roles: it (i) promotes the assembly of MWCNTs into a 3D network therefore improving the mass transfer and thus increasing the catalytic activity; (ii) protects the Fe‐containing active sites, present on the surface of the MWCNTs, from H2 O2 poisoning; (iii) creates nitrogenated active sites and hence further enhances ORR activity and robustness. Abstract : A simple and effective strategy is reported to enhance the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) performance of multiwall carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs). This approach is based on using biomass‐derived amorphous carbon to coat CNTs via a hydrothermal process. The approach of manipulating the interface between MWCNTs and the electrolyte is easy to scale up to fit either batch or continuous process.