Nitrogen and phosphorus modification to enhance the catalytic activity of biomass-derived carbon toward the oxygen reduction reaction. Issue 6 (9th December 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Han, Lei; Cui, Xingyu; Liu, Yanyan; Han, Guosheng; Wu, Xianli; Xu, Chunbao (Charles); Li, Baojun
• Is Part Of: Sustainable energy & fuels. Volume 4:Issue 6(2020)
• Page Start: 2707
• Page End: 2717
• Publication Date: 2019-12-09
• Subjects: Renewable energy sources -- Periodicals; Fuel cells -- Periodicals; Electric batteries -- Periodicals; Electrochemistry -- Periodicals; 660.297
• DOI: 10.1039/c9se00985j
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2398-4902

Abstract

Abstract : N, P heteroatoms are doped into the carbon derived from Fructus azedarach precursor. The successful application in zinc–air battery illustrates that the N, P synergistic effect makes a bright future for the development of catalytically active carbon. Abstract : As the crucial cathode reaction of fuel cells and metal–air batteries, the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) has always required a catalyst to improve the electrochemical reaction rate. In this article, taking Fructus azedarach as the raw material, a nitrogen–phosphorus double-doped carbon nanosheet material was synthesized through microwave-assisted hydrothermal treatment and high temperature calcination. The synthesized amorphous NPDC possessed multi-level pores and abundant edge defects. With an N : P ratio of 1.09, doped N and P achieved the best electronic synergistic effect and thus caused surrounding carbon to show high catalytic activity towards the ORR with a half-wave potential of 0.84 V, onset potential of 0.94 V and limiting current density value of 6.01 mA cm −2 in alkaline media. The NPDC-1.09 also exhibited superior stability (drop of 11% at 0.8 V after 22 h) and methanol tolerance (3.2% decline) compared to 20% Pt/C. When used in zinc–air batteries, its promising application in the field of energy storage and conversion is demonstrated by its 84 h long-term cycling stability (with a current density of 10 mA cm −2 ). The discovery of such an N and P dual-doped carbon structure with a substantial synergistic effect is of great significance for promoting the replacement of platinum-based catalysts with carbon-based materials.