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In Situ, Fast, High‐Temperature Synthesis of Nickel Nanoparticles in Reduced Graphene Oxide Matrix
Author(s) -
Li Yiju,
Chen Yanan,
Nie Anmin,
Lu Aijiang,
Jacob Rohit Jiji,
Gao Tingting,
Song Jianwei,
Dai Jiaqi,
Wan Jiayu,
Pastel Glenn,
Zachariah Michael R.,
Yassar Reza Shahbazian,
Hu Liangbing
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
advanced energy materials
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 10.08
H-Index - 220
eISSN - 1614-6840
pISSN - 1614-6832
DOI - 10.1002/aenm.201601783
Subject(s) - materials science , graphene , nanoparticle , oxide , chemical engineering , nickel , catalysis , anode , carbon fibers , nanotechnology , composite material , electrode , metallurgy , composite number , organic chemistry , chemistry , engineering
For the first time, a fast heating–cooling process is reported for the synthesis of carbon‐coated nickel (Ni) nanoparticles on a reduced graphene oxide (RGO) matrix (nano‐Ni@C/RGO) as a high‐performance H 2 O 2 fuel catalyst. The Joule heating temperature can reach up to ≈2400 K and the heating time can be less than 0.1 s. Ni microparticles with an average diameter of 2 µm can be directly converted into nanoparticles with an average diameter of 75 nm. The Ni nanoparticles embedded in RGO are evaluated for electro‐oxidation performance as a H 2 O 2 fuel in a direct peroxide–peroxide fuel cell, which exhibits an electro‐oxidation current density of 602 mA cm −2 at 0.2 V (vs Ag/AgCl), ≈150 times higher than the original Ni microparticles embedded in the RGO matrix (micro‐Ni/RGO). The high‐temperature, fast Joule heating process also leads to a 4–5 nm conformal carbon coating on the surface of the Ni nanoparticles, which anchors them to the RGO nanosheets and leads to an excellent catalytic stability. The newly developed nano‐Ni@C/RGO composites by Joule heating hold great promise for a range of emerging energy applications, including the advanced anode materials of fuel cells.