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Magnetic Field‐Enhanced 4‐Electron Pathway for Well‐Aligned Co 3 O 4 /Electrospun Carbon Nanofibers in the Oxygen Reduction Reaction
Author(s) -
Zeng Zheng,
Zhang Tian,
Liu Yiyang,
Zhang Wendi,
Yin Ziyu,
Ji Zuowei,
Wei Jianjun
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
chemsuschem
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.412
H-Index - 157
eISSN - 1864-564X
pISSN - 1864-5631
DOI - 10.1002/cssc.201701947
Subject(s) - electrocatalyst , limiting current , electron transfer , catalysis , carbon fibers , carbon nanofiber , materials science , glassy carbon , electrochemistry , activation energy , chemical engineering , nanotechnology , chemistry , electrode , carbon nanotube , composite material , organic chemistry , cyclic voltammetry , composite number , engineering
The sluggish reaction kinetics of the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) has been the limiting factor for fuel energy utilization, hence it is desirable to develop high‐performance electrocatalysts for a 4‐electron pathway ORR. A constant low‐current (50 μA) electrodeposition technique is used to realize the formation of a uniform Co 3 O 4 film on well‐aligned electrospun carbon nanofibers (ECNFs) with a time‐dependent growth mechanism. This material also exhibits a new finding of mT magnetic field‐induced enhancement of the electron exchange number of the ORR at a glassy carbon electrode modified with the Co 3 O 4 /ECNFs catalyst. The magnetic susceptibility of the unpaired electrons in Co 3 O 4 improves the kinetics and efficiency of electron transfer reactions in the ORR, which shows a 3.92‐electron pathway in the presence of a 1.32 mT magnetic field. This research presents a potential revolution of traditional electrocatalysis by simply applying an external magnetic field on metal oxides as a replacement for noble metals to reduce the risk of fuel‐cell degradation and maximize the energy output.