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Robust Synthesis of High‐Performance N‐Graphite Hollow Nanocatalysts Based on the Ostwald Ripening Mechanism for Oxygen Reduction Reaction Electrocatalysis
Author(s) -
Ai Kelong,
Li Zelun,
Li Weiwei,
Fan Jinchang,
Cui Xiaoqiang,
Zheng Weitao
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
particle and particle systems characterization
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.877
H-Index - 56
eISSN - 1521-4117
pISSN - 0934-0866
DOI - 10.1002/ppsc.201800266
Subject(s) - ostwald ripening , electrocatalyst , nanomaterial based catalyst , catalysis , materials science , chemical engineering , graphite , nanomaterials , nanoparticle , carbon fibers , dispersity , nanotechnology , specific surface area , methanol , chemistry , electrochemistry , organic chemistry , electrode , composite number , composite material , engineering , polymer chemistry
N‐doped carbon nanomaterials have received increasing attention as one of the most attractive candidates to replace Pt/C catalysts for the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) in energy conversion and storage devices. The graphitization degree and the surface area are widely recognized as two fundamentally crucial factors for the catalytic performance of N‐doped carbon nanomaterials. However, there are no effective strategies to produce N‐doped carbon materials with a high degree of graphitization and a large surface area, simultaneously. As a result, currently studied N‐doped carbon materials exhibit much lower activity, durability, and stability than expected. Herein, an Ostwald ripening mechanism‐driven method to produce monodisperse N‐graphite hollow nanoparticles with significantly improved graphitization and a dramatically enlarged surface area is developed. Exhaustive measurements demonstrate that the N‐graphite hollow nanoparticles exhibit higher catalytic activity, stability, and methanol tolerance in the alkaline media, as compared to the commercial Pt/C. These nanoparticles are further assembled into a cell. Impressively, the cell shows a power density of 47.2 mW cm −2 , which is almost twice the value of Pt/C‐based cell, and also much higher than those of previously reported nonprecious catalyst‐based cells. The N‐graphite hollow nanoparticles are expected to be a promising candidate for the next generation of ORR catalysts.