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FeN 4 Sites Embedded into Carbon Nanofiber Integrated with Electrochemically Exfoliated Graphene for Oxygen Evolution in Acidic Medium
Author(s) -
Lei Chaojun,
Chen Hengquan,
Cao Junhui,
Yang Jian,
Qiu Ming,
Xia Ying,
Yuan Chris,
Yang Bin,
Li Zhongjian,
Zhang Xingwang,
Lei Lecheng,
Abbott Janel,
Zhong Yu,
Xia Xinhui,
Wu Gang,
He Qinggang,
Hou Yang
Publication year - 2018
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.201801912
Subject(s) - oxygen evolution , materials science , electrocatalyst , overpotential , graphene , catalysis , carbonization , inorganic chemistry , electrolyte , chemical engineering , carbon nanofiber , carbon fibers , electrochemistry , nanotechnology , electrode , chemistry , carbon nanotube , organic chemistry , composite number , scanning electron microscope , composite material , engineering
Development of inexpensive and efficient oxygen evolution reaction (OER) catalysts in acidic environment is very challenging, but it is important for practical proton exchange membrane water electrolyzers. A molecular iron–nitrogen coordinated carbon nanofiber is developed, which is supported on an electrochemically exfoliated graphene (FeN 4 /NF/EG) electrocatalyst through carbonizing the precursor composed of iron ions absorbed on polyaniline‐electrodeposited EG. Benefitting from the unique 3D structure, the FeN 4 /NF/EG hybrid exhibits a low overpotential of ≈294 mV at 10 mA cm −2 for the OER in acidic electrolyte, which is much lower than that of commercial Ir/C catalysts (320 mV) as well as all previously reported acid transitional metal‐derived OER electrocatalysts. X‐ray absorption spectroscopy coupled with a designed poisoning experiment reveals that the molecular FeN 4 species are identified as active centers for the OER in acid. The first‐principles‐based calculations verify that the FeN 4 –doped carbon structure is capable of reducing the potential barriers and boosting the electrocatalytic OER activity in acid.