Electrocatalytic Oxygen Reduction Reaction of Graphene Oxide and Metal-Free Graphene in an Alkaline Medium
Saravanan Nagappan,
Malarkodi Duraivel,
SeongHoon Han,
Mohammad Yusuf,
Manjiri Mahadadalkar,
KyeongMun Park,
Amarajothi Dhakshinamoorthy,
Kandasamy Prabakar,
Sungkyun Park,
Chang-Sik Ha,
Jae-Myung Lee,
Kang Hyun Park
Affiliations
Saravanan Nagappan
Department of Chemistry, Chemistry Institute for Functional Materials, Pusan National University, 2 Busandaehak-ro 63beon-gil, Geumjeong-gu, Busan 46241, Republic of Korea
Malarkodi Duraivel
Department of Electrical Engineering, Pusan National University, 2 Busandaehak-ro 63beon-gil, Geumjeong-gu, Busan 46241, Republic of Korea
SeongHoon Han
Department of Physics, Pusan National University, 2 Busandaehak-ro 63beon-gil, Geumjeong-gu, Busan 46241, Republic of Korea
Mohammad Yusuf
Department of Chemistry, Chemistry Institute for Functional Materials, Pusan National University, 2 Busandaehak-ro 63beon-gil, Geumjeong-gu, Busan 46241, Republic of Korea
Manjiri Mahadadalkar
Department of Chemistry, Chemistry Institute for Functional Materials, Pusan National University, 2 Busandaehak-ro 63beon-gil, Geumjeong-gu, Busan 46241, Republic of Korea
KyeongMun Park
Department of Chemistry, Chemistry Institute for Functional Materials, Pusan National University, 2 Busandaehak-ro 63beon-gil, Geumjeong-gu, Busan 46241, Republic of Korea
Amarajothi Dhakshinamoorthy
School of Chemistry, Madurai Kamaraj University, Palkalai Nagar, Madurai 625021, Tamil Nadu, India
Kandasamy Prabakar
Department of Electrical Engineering, Pusan National University, 2 Busandaehak-ro 63beon-gil, Geumjeong-gu, Busan 46241, Republic of Korea
Sungkyun Park
Department of Physics, Pusan National University, 2 Busandaehak-ro 63beon-gil, Geumjeong-gu, Busan 46241, Republic of Korea
Chang-Sik Ha
Department of Polymer Science and Engineering, Pusan National University, 2 Busandaehak-ro 63beon-gil, Geumjeong-gu, Busan 46241, Republic of Korea
Jae-Myung Lee
Department of Naval Architecture and Ocean Engineering, Pusan National University, Busan 46241, Republic of Korea
Kang Hyun Park
Department of Chemistry, Chemistry Institute for Functional Materials, Pusan National University, 2 Busandaehak-ro 63beon-gil, Geumjeong-gu, Busan 46241, Republic of Korea
Graphene is a well-known two-dimensional material with a large surface area and is used for numerous applications in a variety of fields. Metal-free carbon materials such as graphene-based materials are widely used as an electrocatalyst for oxygen reduction reactions (ORRs). Recently, more attention has been paid to developing metal-free graphenes doped with heteroatoms such as N, S, and P as efficient electrocatalysts for ORR. In contrast, we found our prepared graphene from graphene oxide (GO) by the pyrolysis method under a nitrogen atmosphere at 900 °C has shown better ORR activity in aqueous 0.1 M potassium hydroxide solution electrolyte as compared with the electrocatalytic activity of pristine GO. At first, we prepared various graphene by pyrolysis of 50 mg and 100 mg of GO in one to three alumina boats and pyrolyzed the samples under a N2 atmosphere at 900 °C. The prepared samples are named G50-1B to 3B and G100-1B and G100-2B. The prepared GO and graphenes were also analyzed under various characterization techniques to confirm their morphology and structural integrity. The obtained results suggest that the ORR electrocatalytic activity of graphene may differ based on the pyrolysis conditions. We found that G100-1B (Eonset, E1/2, JL, and n values of 0.843, 0.774, 4.558, and 3.76) and G100-2B (Eonset, E1/2, and JL values of 0.837, 0.737, 4.544, and 3.41) displayed better electrocatalytic ORR activity, as did Pt/C electrode (Eonset, E1/2, and JL values of 0.965, 0.864, 5.222, and 3.71, respectively). These results display the wide use of the prepared graphene for ORR and also can be used for fuel cell and metal–air battery applications.
