High performance biomass-derived catalysts for the oxygen reduction reaction with excellent methanol tolerance. (16th October 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Yao, Zhizi; Ma, Junhong; Hoang, Tuan K.A.; Shi, Minhui; Sun, Akang
• Is Part Of: International journal of hydrogen energy. Volume 45:Number 51(2020)
• Page Start: 27026
• Page End: 27035
• Publication Date: 2020-10-16
• Subjects: Biomass carbon -- Graphene -- Fe and N co-doped carbon -- Oxygen reduction reaction -- Alkaline medium; Hydrogen as fuel -- Periodicals; Hydrogène (Combustible) -- Périodiques; Hydrogen as fuel; Periodicals; 665.81
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ijhydene.2020.07.023
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0360-3199

Abstract

Abstract: The discovery of low cost and efficient catalytic materials for the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) is of paramount importance for industrial-scale fuel cell manufacture. In this work, a convenient and straightforward approach was designed and applied to produce iron and nitrogen co-doped biomass carbon/graphene composite (Fe–N/CB -RGO) by using soybean dregs combined with graphene oxide (GO). The results show that the optimized Fe–N/CB -RGO (1) sample has high catalytic activity and stability for ORR, the onset potential of Fe–N/CB -RGO (1) is 0.02 V vs. Hg/HgO, which is merely 50 mV negative-shifted comparison with commercial Pt/C. The composition optimized Fe–N/CB -RGO (1) catalyst showed excellent methanol tolerance, with the presence of methanol surprisingly improving ORR performance. This unique catalytic performance of the Fe–N/CB -RGO (1) catalyst is attributed to electron transfer synergies arising from close interfacial contact between the biomass-derived carbon and graphene. Graphical abstract: Iron and nitrogen co-doped biomass carbon/graphene composites (Fe–N/CB -RGO) with multi-level porous structure were prepared. The synergy between CB and RGO endows the optimized sample with favorable catalytic activity, durability, and prominent methanol tolerance in oxygen reduction reaction (ORR). Image 1 Highlights: Fe/N co-doped biomass carbon/graphene composites were prepared by a facile method. The optimized Fe-N/CB -RGO presents decent ORR activity with Eonset of 0.02 V. The ORR stability of optimized Fe-N/CB -RGO increased 30% compared with Pt/C. Fe-N/CB -RGO shows excellent methanol tolerance during the continuous ORR operation. The superior catalytic performance could be attributed to the synergy of CB and RGO.