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Low‐Cost Chitosan‐Derived N‐Doped Carbons Boost Electrocatalytic Activity of Multiwall Carbon Nanotubes
Author(s) -
Qiao Mo,
Meysami Seyyed Shayan,
Ferrero Guillermo Alvarez,
Xie Fei,
Meng Han,
Grobert Nicole,
Titirici MariaMagdalena
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
advanced functional materials
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 6.069
H-Index - 322
eISSN - 1616-3028
pISSN - 1616-301X
DOI - 10.1002/adfm.201707284
Subject(s) - materials science , carbon nanotube , catalysis , chemical engineering , coating , chitosan , electrolyte , carbon nanofiber , carbon fibers , nanotechnology , electrode , organic chemistry , composite material , composite number , chemistry , engineering
An effective strategy is proposed to enhance the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) performance of multiwall carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) in both acid and alkaline electrolytes by coating them with a layer of biomass derivative N‐doped hydrothermal carbons. The N‐doped amorphous carbon coating plays triple roles: it (i) promotes the assembly of MWCNTs into a 3D network therefore improving the mass transfer and thus increasing the catalytic activity; (ii) protects the Fe‐containing active sites, present on the surface of the MWCNTs, from H 2 O 2 poisoning; (iii) creates nitrogenated active sites and hence further enhances ORR activity and robustness.