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In Situ Synthesis and Electrocatalytic Performance of Fe/Fe 2.5 C/Fe 3 N/Nitrogen‐Doped Carbon Nanotubes for the Oxygen Reduction Reaction
Author(s) -
Yan Ping,
Kong Dewang,
Yuan Wenjing,
Xie Anjian,
Shen Yuhua
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.201900716
Subject(s) - carbon nanotube , materials science , catalysis , nanocomposite , methanol , electrolyte , nitrogen , carbon fibers , doping , oxygen , chemical engineering , nuclear chemistry , inorganic chemistry , nanotechnology , electrode , chemistry , composite material , organic chemistry , composite number , optoelectronics , engineering
I n this study, a novel one‐dimensional iron‐based nitrogen‐doped carbon nanotube (N‐CNT) nanocomposite (Fe/Fe 2.5 C/Fe 3 N/N‐CNT) was successfully synthesized in situ by using a facile and low‐cost method. In alkaline media, the typical product (Fe/Fe 2.5 C/Fe 3 N/N‐CNT‐30) showed an good onset potential ( E onset =0.93 V vs RHE), half‐wave potential ( E 1/2 =0.79 V vs RHE), and current density ( J =6.62 mA cm −2 at 0.2 V vs RHE), especially compared to the commercial 20 % Pt/C catalyst (0.95 V, 0.82 V, 5.61 mA cm −2 , respectively). In acidic medium, it also exhibits a good oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) activity. Moreover, Fe/Fe 2.5 C/Fe 3 N/N‐CNT‐30 exhibited superior long‐term durability and methanol tolerance compared to Pt/C in both alkaline and acidic media. The excellent electrocatalytic performance of this material is attributed to the abundant carbon defects in the carbon structure, the high content doping of pyridinic N and graphitic N into the CNTs, the multi‐model Fe species as active sites, and the fact that most Fe species within the CNTs avoid corrosion from electrolyte. This study paves a new way for highly active ORR electrocatalysts and promotes the rapid development of CNTs in some frontier fields.