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Cobalt–Nitrogen‐Doped Helical Carbonaceous Nanotubes as a Class of Efficient Electrocatalysts for the Oxygen Reduction Reaction
Author(s) -
Liang Zuozhong,
Fan Xing,
Lei Haitao,
Qi Jing,
Li Youyong,
Gao Jinpeng,
Huo Meiling,
Yuan Haitao,
Zhang Wei,
Lin Haiping,
Zheng Haoquan,
Cao Rui
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
angewandte chemie
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 1521-3757
pISSN - 0044-8249
DOI - 10.1002/ange.201807854
Subject(s) - electrocatalyst , cobalt , graphene , methanol , carbon fibers , carbon nanotube , nitrogen , pyrolysis , materials science , oxygen , polypyrrole , oxygen reduction , oxygen reduction reaction , chemical engineering , chemistry , inorganic chemistry , nanotechnology , electrochemistry , organic chemistry , electrode , composite number , composite material , engineering
The oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) is of significant importance in the development of fuel cells. Now, cobalt–nitrogen‐doped chiral carbonaceous nanotubes ( l/d ‐CCNTs‐Co) are presented as efficient electrocatalysts for ORR. The chiral template, N‐stearyl‐ l/d ‐glutamic acid, induces the self‐assembly of well‐arranged polypyrrole and the formation of ordered graphene carbon with helical structures at the molecular level after the pyrolysis process. Co was subsequently introduced through the post‐synthesis method. The obtained l/d ‐CCNTs‐Co exhibits superior ORR performance, including long‐term stability and better methanol tolerance compared to achiral Co‐doped carbon materials and commercial Pt/C. DFT calculations demonstrate that the charges on the twisted surface of l/d ‐CCNTs are widely separated; as a result the Co atoms are more exposed on the chiral CCNTs. This work gives us a new understanding of the effects of helical structures in electrocatalysis.