N-doped porous carbon nanofibers fabricated by bacterial cellulose-directed templating growth of MOF crystals for efficient oxygen reduction reaction and sodium-ion storage. (30th October 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Huang, Yang; Tang, Kaiyuan; Yuan, Fanshu; Zhang, Weiwei; Li, Bengang; Seidi, Farzad; Xiao, Huining; Sun, Dongping
• Is Part Of: Carbon. Volume 168(2020)
• Page Start: 12
• Page End: 21
• Publication Date: 2020-10-30
• Subjects: Bacterial cellulose -- Metal organic framework -- Hierarchically porous carbon -- Oxygen reduction reaction -- Sodium-ion storage; Carbon -- Periodicals; Carbone -- Périodiques; Koolstof; Toepassingen; Electronic journals; 546.681
• DOI: 10.1016/j.carbon.2020.06.052
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0008-6223

Abstract

Abstract: A nanofiber-directed templating strategy has been employed in this work to fabricate reticulated composites by decorating metal organic framework (MOF) onto a biomass scaffold of bacterial cellulose (BC). The abundant oxygen-containing groups on BC facilitate the highly dispersed nucleation of ZIF-8 (a typical MOF) and thus direct these nanocrystals assembly and growth along BC nanofibers homogeneously. The as-prepared ZIF-8@BC composites are converted into hierarchically porous carbon nanofibers with high intensity of N-dopants (N-PC@CBC) by a convenient carbonization process. In comparison with the bulk N-doping porous carbon (N-PC) by direct carbonization of pristine ZIF-8, N-PC@CBC exhibits more pronounced specific surface area and pore volume. As a result, N-PC@CBC shows outstanding oxygen reduction reaction catalytic performance approaching or even surpassing the commercial Pt/C catalyst. Additionally, the robust architecture of highly interweaved N-PC@CBC nanofibers as well as the sufficient N-dopants is also favorable for the enhancement of sodium-ion storage capability. After assembling the sodium-ion half-cells, the free-standing N-PC@CBC anodes display relatively high specific capacity, superior rate capability, and excellent cycling stability. The present work sheds light on a promising avenue to develop high-performance MOF-derived electrodes with cost-effective cellulose skeleton. Graphical abstract: Image 1 Highlights: A nanofiber-directed templating method is employed at room temperature to anchor MOF. The abundant hydroxyl groups on BC greatly disperse the nucleation of MOF crystals. The Zn nodes in ZIF-8 act as sacrificing agents to create pores during carbonization. N-PC@CBC presents the fibrous morphology, high surface area, and abundant N-dopants. N-PC@CBC exhibits superior durability for both ORR catalysis and sodium-ion storage.