N-doping modification by plasma treatment in polyacrylonitrile derived carbon-based nanofibers for Oxygen Reduction Reaction. (14th April 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Massaglia, Giulia; Sacco, Adriano; Castellino, Micaela; Chiodoni, Angelica; Frascella, Francesca; Bianco, Stefano; Pirri, Candido F.; Quaglio, Marzia
• Is Part Of: International journal of hydrogen energy. Volume 46:Number 26(2021)
• Page Start: 13845
• Page End: 13854
• Publication Date: 2021-04-14
• Subjects: Single chamber microbial fuel cells (SCMFCs) -- Oxygen Reduction Reaction -- Plasma treatment -- Electrospinning -- N-doped Carbon Nanofibers (N-CNFs); Hydrogen as fuel -- Periodicals; Hydrogène (Combustible) -- Périodiques; Hydrogen as fuel; Periodicals; 665.81
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ijhydene.2020.09.149
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0360-3199

Abstract

Abstract: This work aims at providing a simple and effective method to optimize and improve the nitrogen-based defects into intrinsically N-doped carbon-based electrospun nanofibers (CNFs) for achieving highly active catalysts for the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR). To reach this goal, plasma treatments are investigated as an effective method to tune the distribution of the N-doping sites that are vital to improve the ORR catalytic activity of the material. Morphological, physical, chemical as well as electrochemical characterizations were performed on plasma-treated CNFs to demonstrate the effectiveness of such treatments to improve the catalytic behavior of CNFs toward ORR. Finally, Microbial Fuel Cells (MFCs) were selected to test the plasma-treated nanofibers as the cathode catalyst layer demonstrating an increase of the overall performance of the MFCs with respect to the devices using the Pt-based reference catalyst. Highlights: Plasma treatments play a crucial role to modify the nitrogen content in CNFs. Air plasma -CNFs combine high content of N-defects to high conductivity. Air plasma -CNFs show optimal electrochemical properties for Oxygen-Reduction-Reaction. SCMFC performance with Air plasma -CNFs is comparable to the one of Pt/C catalyst. The SCMFCs with Air plasma -CNFs achieve current density of 278.47 ± 4.89 mA m −2 .