Co3O4 Nanoparticle-Decorated N-Doped Mesoporous Carbon Nanofibers as an Efficient Catalyst for Oxygen Reduction Reaction

Hairong Xue; Tao Wang; Hao Gong; Hu Guo; Xiaoli Fan; Li Song; Wei Xia; Yaya Feng; Jianping He

doi:10.3390/catal7060189

Catalysts (Jun 2017)

Co3O4 Nanoparticle-Decorated N-Doped Mesoporous Carbon Nanofibers as an Efficient Catalyst for Oxygen Reduction Reaction

Hairong Xue,
Tao Wang,
Hao Gong,
Hu Guo,
Xiaoli Fan,
Li Song,
Wei Xia,
Yaya Feng,
Jianping He

Affiliations

Hairong Xue: College of Materials Science and Technology, Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Materials and Technology for Energy Conversion, Nanjing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Nanjing 210016, China
Tao Wang: College of Materials Science and Technology, Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Materials and Technology for Energy Conversion, Nanjing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Nanjing 210016, China
Hao Gong: College of Materials Science and Technology, Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Materials and Technology for Energy Conversion, Nanjing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Nanjing 210016, China
Hu Guo: College of Materials Science and Technology, Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Materials and Technology for Energy Conversion, Nanjing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Nanjing 210016, China
Xiaoli Fan: College of Materials Science and Technology, Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Materials and Technology for Energy Conversion, Nanjing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Nanjing 210016, China
Li Song: College of Materials Science and Technology, Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Materials and Technology for Energy Conversion, Nanjing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Nanjing 210016, China
Wei Xia: College of Materials Science and Technology, Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Materials and Technology for Energy Conversion, Nanjing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Nanjing 210016, China
Yaya Feng: College of Materials Science and Technology, Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Materials and Technology for Energy Conversion, Nanjing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Nanjing 210016, China
Jianping He: College of Materials Science and Technology, Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Materials and Technology for Energy Conversion, Nanjing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Nanjing 210016, China

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/catal7060189
Journal volume & issue: Vol. 7, no. 6
p. 189

Abstract

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A low cost, durable, and efficient electrocatalyst for oxygen reduction reactions (ORR) is essential for high-performance fuel cells. Here, we fabricated Co3O4 nanoparticles (NPs) anchored on N-doped mesoporous carbon nanofibers (Co3O4/NMCF) by electrospinning combined with the simple heat treatment. Within this composite, carbon nanofibers possess a mesoporous structure, contributed to obtain a high surface area, which can facilitate the infiltration of electrolyte. Moreover, this one-dimensional (1D) carbon nanofiber also acts as a 1D conductive channel, effectively improving the transmission of electrons. In addition, the doping of the N element with high content combined with homogenously distributed Co3O4 NPs can significantly enhance the ORR electrocatalytic activity. Benefiting from the advantages of material and structure, the Co3O4/NMCF catalyst favors a four electron transfer process in alkaline media, exhibiting good ORR electrocatalytic activity, and its durability is much better than that of commercial Pt/C.

Published in Catalysts

ISSN: 2073-4344 (Online)
Publisher: MDPI AG
Country of publisher: Switzerland
LCC subjects: Technology: Chemical technology; Science: Chemistry
Website: https://www.mdpi.com/journal/catalysts

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