A mesoporous carbon-based catalyst derived from cobalt and boron co-doped melamine formaldehyde gel for oxygen reduction reaction. (10th February 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Cao, Hehuan; Cao, Jidong; Wang, Fanghui; Zhu, Hong; Pu, Min
• Is Part Of: Electrochimica acta. Volume 333(2020)
• Publication Date: 2020-02-10
• Subjects: Non-precious metal catalysts -- Oxygen reduction reaction -- Fuel cell -- Co-doping of cobalt and boron -- Melamine-formaldehyde gel; Electrochemistry -- Periodicals; Electrochemistry, Industrial -- Periodicals; 541.37
• DOI: 10.1016/j.electacta.2019.135560
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0013-4686

Abstract

Abstract: Non-precious metal catalysts are playing an increasingly important role in research on oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) catalysts for fuel cells due to their relatively low cost. In this work, a novel mesoporous catalyst derived from cobalt- and boron-co-doped melamine formaldehyde (MF) gel (Co, B-MF) was successfully synthesized by a facile self-assembly pyrolysis method. It was found that doping of Co and B could provide various active sites and an appropriate pyrolysis temperature was beneficial to increase the number of active sites. As a result, the obtained Co, B-MF-900 catalyst (pyrolyzed at 900 °C) exhibited an outstanding ORR performance in 0.1 M KOH solution with a high onset potential of 1.1 V versus reversible hydrogen electrode (vs RHE), which was 0.1 V higher than that of the commercial Johnson Matthey Pt/C. Additionally, Co, B-MF-900 displayed good stability and superior methanol tolerance. The superior ORR performance of Co, B-MF-900 can be attributed to its mesoporous structure, the synergistic effect of active sites, and the excellent conductivity of the carbon carrier. Graphical abstract: Image 1 Highlights: High activity catalysts were prepared by a facile self-assembly pyrolysis method. The doping of Co and B into melamine-formaldehyde gel made much active sites. Co, B-MF/C-900 showed high activity, great durability, and good methanol tolerance. The ORR catalytic process of Co, B-MF/C-900 was based on a four-electron pathway.