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CoSe 2 Supported on Nitrogen‐Doped Carbon Nanohorns as a Methanol‐Tolerant Cathode for Air‐Breathing Microlaminar Flow Fuel Cells
Author(s) -
Unni Sreekuttan M.,
MoraHernandez Juan M.,
Kurungot Sreekumar,
AlonsoVante Nicolas
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
chemelectrochem
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.182
H-Index - 59
ISSN - 2196-0216
DOI - 10.1002/celc.201500154
Subject(s) - overpotential , methanol , catalysis , carbon fibers , cathode , materials science , chemical engineering , nitrogen , oxygen , chemistry , inorganic chemistry , composite material , electrode , organic chemistry , electrochemistry , composite number , engineering
The synthesis of CoSe 2 nanoparticles supported on nitrogen‐doped carbon nanohorns (CoSe 2 /NCNH) and the influence of the interaction of the metal centre with the NCNH on the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) are reported. CoSe 2 /NCNH shows a 50 mV lower onset overpotential and a 150 mV positive shift in the half‐wave potential compared to CoSe 2 supported on carbon and carbon nanohorns. This suggests that the intrinsic activity and the density of active reaction centres of CoSe 2 are modified by NCNHs. An air‐breathing direct methanol microlaminar flow fuel cell (μLFFC) is constructed using CoSe 2 /NCNH as a methanol‐tolerant cathode catalyst. A maximum power density of 10.05 mW cm −2 and a maximum current density of 124.20 mA cm −2 are achieved with CoSe 2 /NCNH compared to the non‐doped catalyst, CoSe 2 /C and Pt/C with 5 M methanol as the fuel. The improved activity of CoSe 2 /NCNH is attributed to the peculiar morphology and the nitrogen doping of the carbon nanohorns. This catalyst could be a suitable alternative to Pt.