Improving the electrocatalytic performance of sustainable Co/carbon materials for the oxygen evolution reaction by ultrasound and microwave assisted synthesis. Issue 3 (5th January 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Zuliani, Alessio; Cano, Manuel; Calsolaro, Federica; Puente Santiago, Alain R.; Giner-Casares, Juan J.; Rodríguez-Castellón, Enrique; Berlier, Gloria; Cravotto, Giancarlo; Martina, Katia; Luque, Rafael
• Is Part Of: Sustainable energy & fuels. Volume 5:Issue 3(2021)
• Page Start: 720
• Page End: 731
• Publication Date: 2021-01-05
• Subjects: Renewable energy sources -- Periodicals; Fuel cells -- Periodicals; Electric batteries -- Periodicals; Electrochemistry -- Periodicals; 660.297
• DOI: 10.1039/d0se01505a
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2398-4902

Abstract

Abstract : Microwave and ultrasound preparation of highly active OER electrodes derived from pinecones and having a low cobalt content is reported. Abstract : The design of sustainable procedures for the preparation of cobalt/carbon-based materials as an anode for hydrogen fuel production through electrocatalytic water splitting has attracted much interest in the last few years. Herein, a novel environmentally friendly approach for the development of stable and active catalysts for the oxygen evolution reaction (OER) is reported. In detail, the methodology aimed at developing a sequence of composites having a low cobalt loading (<4%wt ) using polyphenols extracted from green tea as metal stabilizers and activated carbon derived from pinecones as a metal-support as well as a co-active material. The approach exploited ultrasound (US), microwave (MW) and combined US/MW-assisted techniques with the purpose of enhancing the final electrocatalytic activity of these new composites, replacing conventional high-temperature approaches. The results indicated that the so-produced electrocatalytic materials followed the order of activity US > MW/US > MW > conventional heating, with the best sample requiring an overpotential of 365 mV to deliver a current density of 10 mA cm −2 and a Tafel slope of 58 mV dec −1 .