Chitosan Intercalated Metal Organic Gel as a Green Precursor of Fe Entrenched and Fe Distributed N‐Doped Mesoporous Graphitic Carbon for Oxygen Reduction Reaction. Issue 28 (2nd October 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Shijina, Kottarathil; Illathvalappil, Rajith; Kurungot, Sreekumar; Nair, Balagopal N.; Mohamed, A. Peer; Yamaguchi, Takeo; Anilkumar, Gopinathan M.; Hareesh, U. S.; Sailaja, G. S.
• Is Part Of: ChemistrySelect. Volume 2:Issue 28(2017)
• Page Start: 8762
• Page End: 8770
• Publication Date: 2017-10-02
• Subjects: Electrocatalyst -- Fuel Cell -- Metal-Organic-Gel -- Oxygen Reduction Reaction; Chemistry -- Periodicals; 540.5
• DOI: 10.1002/slct.201701416
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2365-6549

Abstract

Abstract: Herein, we present Metal‐Organic Gel intercalated with chitosan, a "green" precursor for the synthesis of intrinsic N‐doped Fe entrenched (CHI‐TMA−Fe‐CW) and Fe distributed mesoporous graphitic carbon structures (CHI‐TMA−Fe‐CW−M1) with appreciable Oxygen Reduction Reaction (ORR) activity in alkaline medium. Modulation of the synthetic protocol as a function of reaction kinetics and gelation time while maintaining identical pyrolysis conditions (900 °C, flowing N2 atmosphere) improves the microstructure, surface area and Fe distribution of the graphitic structures (CHI‐TMA−Fe‐CW−M1). CHI‐TMA−Fe‐CW has a Fe entrenched graphitic nanocapsule like morphology while Fe distributed mesoporous graphitic carbon sheets, with a specific surface area value of 565 m 2 g −1 obtained by modulating the synthesis chemistry in CHI‐TMA−Fe‐CW−M1. The higher percentage of graphitic N in CHI‐TMA−Fe‐CW−M1 apparent from the XPS data validate that the modified synthetic method favours creation of more graphitic N sites contributing for better catalytic performance. CHI‐TMA‐Fe‐CW−M1 catalyst exhibited comparable electrocatalytic activity with that of the commercially available Pt/C via an efficient four‐electron‐dominant ORR pathway with a positive onset potential value of 0.925 V vs RHE. Good durability of CHI‐TMA−Fe‐CW−M1 after 5000 cycles further confirm the prospects of MOG‐chitosan and the feasibility to be used as a potential catalyst for ORR. Abstract : Fe entrenched and Fe distributed mesoporous graphitic carbon structure with improved surface area and higher graphitic N content derived from a green precursor chitosan intercalated MOG. The catalyst exhibited high ORR activity comparable to Pt/C. RDE and RRDE investigations revealed that the catalyst follows a four electron oxygen reduction pathway with very low H2 O2 production and having a good durability profile.