Scientific Reports (Nov 2023)

Synergistic effect of perovskites and nitrogen-doped carbon hybrid materials for improving oxygen reduction reaction

  • R. Rohib,
  • Saeed Ur Rehman,
  • Eunjik Lee,
  • Changki Kim,
  • Hyunjoon Lee,
  • Seung-Bok Lee,
  • Gu-Gon Park

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-023-47304-4
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 13, no. 1
pp. 1 – 10

Abstract

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Abstract A fundamental understanding of the electrochemical behavior of hybrid perovskite and nitrogen-doped (N-doped) carbon is essential for the development of perovskite-based electrocatalysts in various sustainable energy device applications. In particular, the selection and modification of suitable carbon support are important for enhancing the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) of non-platinum group metal electrocatalysts in fuel cells. Herein, we address hybrid materials composed of three representative N-doped carbon supports (BP-2000, Vulcan XC-72 and P-CNF) with valid surface areas and different series of single, double and triple perovskites: Ba0.5Sr0.5Co0.8Fe0.2O3−δ, (Pr0.5Ba0.5)CoO3−δ, and Nd1.5Ba1.5CoFeMnO9−δ (NBCFM), respectively. The combination of NBCFM and N-doped BP-2000 produces a half-wave potential of 0.74 V and a current density of 5.42 mA cm−2 at 0.5 V versus reversible hydrogen electrode, comparable to those of the commercial Pt/C electrocatalyst (0.76 V, 5.21 mA cm−2). Based on physicochemical and electrochemical analyses, we have confirmed a significant improvement in the catalytic performance of low-conductivity perovskite catalyst in the ORR when nitrogen-doped carbon with enhanced electrical conductivity is introduced. Furthermore, it has been observed that nitrogen dopants play active sites, contributing to additional performance enhancement when hybridized with perovskite.