Multi-Scaled Porous Fe-N/C Nanofibrous Catalysts for the Cathode Electrodes of Direct Methanol Fuel Cells. Issue 14 (21st November 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Mei, Riguo; Xi, Jingjing; Ma, Lei; An, Liang; Wang, Fang; Sun, Hongyuan; Luo, Zhongkuan; Wu, Qixing
• Is Part Of: Journal of the Electrochemical Society. Volume 164:Issue 14(2017)
• Page Start: F1556
• Page End: F1565
• Publication Date: 2017-11-21
• Subjects: direct methanol fuel cell -- nanofibrous catalyst -- oxygen reduction reaction; Electrochemistry -- Periodicals; 541.3705
• DOI: 10.1149/2.0451714jes
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0013-4651

Abstract

Abstract : In the present work, a nanofibrous Fe-N/C catalyst with a multi-scaled porous structure is proposed and prepared via electrospinning a polyacrylonitrile (PAN) solution containing Fe 3+ incorporated graphitic carbon nitride (Fe-g-C3 N4 ). Physical and chemical characterizations confirm that micropores, mesopores and hollow-out macropores are co-existed in the Fe-N/C nanofibrous catalysts. The abundant micropores are beneficial for accommodating active sites, while the mesopores and hollow-out macropores can facilitate the supply of oxygen to the active surfaces. Moreover, due to the fibrous morphology of the catalyst, a 3D highly-porous electrode with well-established networks can be formed for facile transport of electrons and oxygen. The experimental results show that the Fe-N/C catalyst delivers a good activity toward oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) in acid media with a half-wave potential of 740 mV and an almost four-electron transfer process, high stability and excellent methanol tolerance. Furthermore, the as-prepared catalyst is used to fabricate the cathode of a direct methanol fuel cell, which yields a peak power density of 14.9 mW cm −2 with 1 M methanol solutions, dry air and an operating temperature of 70°C.