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Insight into the Origin of the Positive Effects of Imidazolium Salt on Electrocatalytic Activity: Ionic Carbon Nanotubes as Metal‐Free Electrocatalysts for Oxygen Reduction Reaction
Author(s) -
Kim Youn Soo,
Shin Ju Yeon,
Jeon Hyun Ji,
Cha Areum,
Lee Chongmok,
Lee Sanggi
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
chemistry – an asian journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.18
H-Index - 106
eISSN - 1861-471X
pISSN - 1861-4728
DOI - 10.1002/asia.201200800
Subject(s) - oxygen reduction reaction , carbon nanotube , salt (chemistry) , ionic bonding , materials science , metal , electrocatalyst , oxygen reduction , carbon fibers , ionic liquid , oxygen , oxygen evolution , inorganic chemistry , chemical engineering , electrochemistry , catalysis , nanotechnology , chemistry , electrode , ion , metallurgy , organic chemistry , composite number , composite material , engineering
We report remarkable metal‐free electrocatalytic activities of the imidazolium salt‐functionalized ionic multi‐walled carbon nanotubes (IM‐ f ‐MWCNTs) in the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR). The electrocatalytic activity can be attributed to the induced polarization of the π‐electrons of CNTs, thus accelerating interfacial electron transfer. The zwitterionic MWCNTs functionalized with poly(vinylimidazolium sulfonate) have a more positive surface charge and exhibit a better electrocatalytic activity than the poly(vinylbutylimidazolium chloride)‐functionalized MWCNTs. The IM‐ f ‐MWCNTs showed better fuel selectivity than the commercial Pt/C electrocatalyst.