A Rhenium Single‐Atom Catalyst for the Electrocatalytic Oxygen Reduction Reaction. Issue 12 (18th December 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Zhang, Xiaohan; Shang, Lu; Yang, Zhaojun; Zhang, Tierui
• Is Part Of: ChemPlusChem. Volume 86:Issue 12(2021)
• Page Start: 1635
• Page End: 1639
• Publication Date: 2021-12-18
• Subjects: coordination chemistry -- electrocatalysis -- oxygen reduction reaction -- rhenium -- single atom catalysts; Chemistry -- Periodicals; 540.5
• DOI: 10.1002/cplu.202100424
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2192-6506

Abstract

Abstract: Single atom catalysts (SACs) have received a great deal of attention due to their extremely high active site utilization and superior activities. The exploration of metal SACs has been carried out by screening the elemental periodic table from first‐row to second‐row, and even third‐row transition metals. However, Re SACs have not been reported, even if Re metal sites also play essential roles in catalyzing many important reactions. The construction of Re SACs may maximize Re catalytic sites and provide new Re active sites for higher activity. Herein, we used 1, 10‐phenanthroline to complex Re cations on carbon black, followed by heat treatment to obtain Re SAC. The Re SAC exhibited an oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) half‐wave potential of 0.72 V versus reversible hydrogen electrode (RHE) in 0.1 M KOH, superior to Re nanoparticles catalyst (0.67 V vs . RHE). Re SAC exhibited better stability at 0.5 V vs. RHE than Pt/C, showing potential as a new electrocatalyst for ORR. Abstract : Re single atom catalysts (SACs) were successfully prepared by utilizing 1, 10‐phenanthroline to anchor Re ions on carbon black support and heat treatment under Ar. The obtained Re SAC with ReN4 active sites exhibited good activity with a E1/2 of 0.72 V for ORR in 0.1 M KOH, which is superior to Re NP catalyst (0.67 V). Re SAC also exhibited good stability, which has the potential to be a class of new electrocatalyst for ORR.