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Biomorphic CoNC/CoO x Composite Derived from Natural Chloroplasts as Efficient Electrocatalyst for Oxygen Reduction Reaction
Author(s) -
Guo Xingmei,
Qian Cheng,
Shi Ruhua,
Zhang Wei,
Xu Fei,
Qian Silu,
Zhang Junhao,
Yang Hongxun,
Yuan Aihua,
Fan Tongxiang
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
small
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.785
H-Index - 236
eISSN - 1613-6829
pISSN - 1613-6810
DOI - 10.1002/smll.201804855
Subject(s) - electrocatalyst , cobalt , materials science , calcination , porphyrin , catalysis , inorganic chemistry , chemical engineering , nuclear chemistry , chemistry , electrochemistry , photochemistry , electrode , organic chemistry , engineering
Natural chloroplasts containing big amounts of chlorophylls (magnesium porphyrin, Mg‐Chl) are employed both as template and porphyrin source to synthesize biomorphic CoNC/CoO x composite as electrocatalyst for the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR). Cobalt‐substituted chlorophyll derivative (Co‐Chl) in chloroplasts is first obtained by successively rinsing in hydrochloric acid and cobalt acetate solutions. After calcining in nitrogen to 800 °C, Co‐Chl is transferred to CoNC; while other parts of chloroplasts adsorbed with Co ions are transferred to CoO x retaining the microarchitecture of chloroplasts. The abundant active CoNC sites are protected by circumjacent biocarbon and CoO x to avoid leakage and agglomeration, and at the same time can overcome the poor conductivity weakness of CoO x by directly transporting electrons to the carbonaceous skeleton. This unique synergistic effect, together with efficient bioarchitecture, leads to good electrocatalytical performance for the ORR. The onset and half‐wave potentials are 0.89 and 0.82 V versus reversible hydrogen electrode, respectively, with better durability and methanol tolerance than that of commercial Pt/C. Different from the traditional concept of biomorphic materials which simply utilize bioarchitectures, this work provides a new example of coupling bioderivative components with bioarchitectures into one integrated system to achieve good comprehensive performance for electrocatalysts.