An N-doped porous carbon network with a multidirectional structure as a highly efficient metal-free catalyst for the oxygen reduction reaction. Issue 5 (22nd January 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Han, Hyunsu; Noh, Yuseong; Kim, Yoongon; Jung, Won Suk; Park, Seongmin; Kim, Won Bae
• Is Part Of: Nanoscale. Volume 11:Issue 5(2019)
• Page Start: 2423
• Page End: 2433
• Publication Date: 2019-01-22
• Subjects: Nanoscience -- Periodicals; Nanotechnology -- Periodicals; 620.505
• DOI: 10.1039/c8nr10242b
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2040-3364

Abstract

Abstract : A highly efficient multidirectional N-doped porous carbon network with plenty of graphitic N-species has been explored as cathode catalysts in fuel cells. Abstract : Metal-free catalysts have gained substantial attention as a promising candidate to replace the expensive platinum (Pt) catalysts for the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) which is a key process in low temperature fuel cells. Development of highly efficient and mass-producible N-doped carbon catalysts, however, remains to be a great challenge. In this study, N-doped porous carbon (NPC) materials were synthesized via a simple, cost-effective and scalable method for mass production by using thed -gluconic acid sodium salt, pyrrole, Triton X-100 and KOH. The resulting NPC possessed a multidirectional porous carbon network ( S BET : 1026.6 m 2 g −1, V t : 1.046 cm 3 g −1 ) with hierarchical porosity and plenty of graphitic N species (49.1%). Electrochemical tests showed that the NPC itself was highly active for the ORR under alkaline and acidic conditions via a four electron pathway for the complete reduction of O2 in water. More importantly, this NPC catalyst demonstrated better performance than commercial Pt/C catalysts in terms of long-term durability and methanol tolerance under both conditions.