Ternary (N, B, F)-Doped Biocarbon Derived from Bean Residues as Efficient Bifunctional Electrocatalysts for Oxygen Reduction and Evolution Reactions. Issue 9 (1st September 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Tan, Mingxiu; Wang, Qing; Wang, Shasha; Liu, Wuxin; Wang, Dengyang; Luo, Shaohua; Hou, Pengqing; Zhou, Meng; Zhang, Yahui; Yan, Shengxue; Liu, Xin
• Is Part Of: Journal of the Electrochemical Society. Volume 169:Issue 9(2022)
• Publication Date: 2022-09-01
• Subjects: Electrochemistry -- Periodicals; 541.3705
• DOI: 10.1149/1945-7111/ac93ba
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0013-4651

Abstract

Abstract : Development of efficient metal-free carbon-based electrocatalysts for oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) and oxygen evolution reaction (OER) are of great significance for Zn-air batteries. Herein, a porous biocarbon bifunctional catalyst (C-NBF-G) was directly synthesized via simple alkali activation and carbonization from bean residues. C-NBF-G exhibited hierarchical porous structures, ternary heteroatom (N, B, and F) doping, a large specific surface area, and a relatively high degree of graphitization. The synergistic action of these characteristics contributed to the outstanding catalytic properties of C-NBF-G for ORR and OER. The catalyst demonstrated an onset potential of 0.94 V, half-wave potential of 0.824 V, and a limiting current density of 5.92 mA cm −2, comparable to those of the commercial 20 wt% Pt/C catalysts. C-NBF-G also exhibited an OER overpotential of 333 mV at 10 mA cm −2 and a Tafel slope of 114 mV dec −1, lower than those of the commercial Pt/C and RuO2 catalysts. These results proved the promising performance of C-NBF-G as a bifunctional catalyst for the ORR and OER.