High performance catalysts based on Fe/N co-doped carbide-derived carbon and carbon nanotube composites for oxygen reduction reaction in acid media. (17th May 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Ratso, Sander; Käärik, Maike; Kook, Mati; Paiste, Päärn; Aruväli, Jaan; Vlassov, Sergei; Kisand, Vambola; Leis, Jaan; Kannan, Arunachala M.; Tammeveski, Kaido
• Is Part Of: International journal of hydrogen energy. Volume 44:Number 25(2019)
• Page Start: 12636
• Page End: 12648
• Publication Date: 2019-05-17
• Subjects: Electrocatalysis -- Oxygen reduction -- Fuel cell -- Carbide-derived carbon -- Carbon nanotubes -- Fe-N-C catalyst; Hydrogen as fuel -- Periodicals; Hydrogène (Combustible) -- Périodiques; Hydrogen as fuel; Periodicals; 665.81
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ijhydene.2018.11.080
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0360-3199

Abstract

Abstract: The key issue of modern electrochemical technology is clean energy production and storage. Proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFC) offer a way to produce electricity from hydrogen, but are hindered by the sluggish reduction of oxygen into water on the cathode, which requires Pt/C catalysts. Iron-nitrogen-carbon (Fe-N-C) catalysts have been shown in recent years to be viable alternatives. Here, we present highly performing Fe-N-C catalysts based on composite materials synthesised from carbide-derived carbon (CDC) and carbon nanotubes (CNT). B4 C, Mo2 C and TiC, which yield CDC materials with different porosity were chosen as the starting carbides, which are then doped with Fe, N and composited with CNTs using ball-milling and pyrolysis. 1, 10-phenanthroline (Phen) and dicyandiamide (DCDA) serve as the nitrogen sources and Fe(II)acetate as the iron source. The catalyst derived from TiC shows a remarkable half-wave potential for oxygen reduction of 0.8 V vs RHE, which shifts negative 36 mV during 5000 potential cycles at 70 °C, while the composite material derived from it is more stable with a shift of only 15 mV during the same period. Highlights: Fe, N-doped carbide-derived carbon and carbon nanotube composites were synthesised. The starting carbide was shown to influence the catalytic activity of the composite. The TiC-derived catalyst showed a half-wave potential of 0.8 V vs RHE in acid media. The composite had a half-wave potential loss of 15 mV over 5000 cycles at 70 °C.