Metal-Free Nitrogen-Doped Carbon Foam Electrocatalysts for the Oxygen Reduction Reaction in Acid Solution. Issue 9 (12th July 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Liu, J.; Yu, S.; Daio, T.; Ismail, M. S.; Sasaki, K.; Lyth, S. M.
• Is Part Of: Journal of the Electrochemical Society. Volume 163:Issue 9(2016)
• Page Start: F1049
• Page End: F1054
• Publication Date: 2016-07-12
• Subjects: carbon foam -- fuel cells -- metal-free -- nitrogen-doped carbon -- non-PGM -- non-precious -- ORR -- oxygen reduction reaction -- PEFC; Electrochemistry -- Periodicals; 541.3705
• DOI: 10.1149/2.0631609jes
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0013-4651

Abstract

Abstract : Metal-free, nitrogen-doped carbon foam is utilized as a model non-precious electrocatalyst system to investigate the role of nitrogen in the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) in the absence of iron contamination. This graphene-like foam displays relatively high activity for the ORR in acid, despite being proven free from transition-metal impurities. The onset potential is 0.85 VRHE, the mass activity is 2.8 A/g at 0.6 VRHE, and the current density is −4.0 mA/cm 2 . The maximum electron transfer number is calculated to be 3.6, revealing that a 4-electron pathway is possible in nitrogen-doped carbon, even in the absence of transition-metal coordination sites. The excellent electrochemical activity is attributed to the large surface area (700 m 2 /g), improved conductivity after graphitization, and the relatively high proportion of tertiary (graphite-like) nitrogen.