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Metal‐Free Hybrid of Nitrogen‐Doped Nanocarbon@Carbon Networks for Highly Efficient Oxygen Reduction Electrocatalyst
Author(s) -
Shi Qing,
Ma Yu,
Qin Lin,
Tang Bin,
Yang Weiyou,
Liu Qiao
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
chemelectrochem
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.182
H-Index - 59
ISSN - 2196-0216
DOI - 10.1002/celc.201900662
Subject(s) - catalysis , carbonization , electrocatalyst , carbon fibers , battery (electricity) , chemical engineering , materials science , methanol , metal , inorganic chemistry , nanotechnology , chemistry , electrode , organic chemistry , electrochemistry , composite number , composite material , metallurgy , scanning electron microscope , power (physics) , physics , quantum mechanics , engineering
Further improving the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) catalytic activity of carbon catalysts is highly challenging and remains a key issue to push forward their commercial progress as Pt alternatives in fuel cells and metal‐air batteries. Herein, a facile and economic strategy was proposed to maximize the active sites exposed in porous carbon catalysts by growing dense N‐doped carbon nanonodules firmly located within carbon fiber networks (NCN@CF) via the in situ polymerization of dopamine on bacterial cellulose fibers and a subsequent carbonization process. This metal‐free hybrid catalyst exhibits enhanced ORR activity and better stabilities against long duration and the methanol crossover effect than the commercial Pt/C catalyst in 0.1 M KOH. Notably, when the NCN@CF hybrid was used as an air electrode catalyst in a Zn‐air battery, the as‐fabricated battery presented a larger peak power density of 168 mW cm −2 , higher specific capacity of 720.5 mA h g −1 and energy density of 900.0 Wh kg −1 compared to those based on commercial Pt/C and most N‐doped carbon catalysts ever reported, evidencing its highly promising use as a Pt‐alternative catalyst for the ORR.