Submicron Co9S8/CoS/Carbon Spheres Derived from Bacteria for the Electrocatalytic Oxygen Reduction Reaction. Issue 17 (30th August 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Guo, Xingmei; Zhang, Wei; Zhang, Di; Qian, Silu; Tong, Xiangzhi; Zhou, Dongcheng; Zhang, Junhao; Yuan, Aihua
• Is Part Of: ChemElectroChem. Volume 6:Issue 17(2019)
• Page Start: 4571
• Page End: 4575
• Publication Date: 2019-08-30
• Subjects: biomass -- Co9S8/CoS/Carbon -- nanostructures -- oxygen reduction reaction -- template synthesis; Electrochemistry -- Periodicals; 541.37
• DOI: 10.1002/celc.201901266
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2196-0216

Abstract

Abstract: Synthesizing non‐noble metal electrocatalysts with both high activity and high stability for the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) is of great significance in the fuel cell and metal‐air battery industries. Herein, a facile method is explored to fabricate submicron Co9 S8 /CoS/C spheres by using Streptococcus thermophiles as a template. The electrocatalytic activity for the ORR with an onset and half‐wave potential of 0.87 and 0.79 V, respectively, vs. RHE approaches that of commercial Pt/C catalyst. The durability and methanol tolerance are better than those of the commercial catalyst. The good performance could be attributed to the coupling effect between Co9 S8 /CoS and the bio‐carbon substrate, as well as the robust submicron sphere morphology. Benefiting from the structural diversity of bacteria, this method can be extended to the synthesis of sulfide catalysts with other elaborate architectures. Abstract : Back to bacteria : A Co9 S8 /CoS/C composite with submicron sphere morphology is synthesized by using bacterium templating combined with a hydrothermal calcination method. High activity and durability are achieved when Co9 S8 /CoS/C is used as an electrocatalyst for the oxygen reduction reaction.