Combination of Mn-Mo Oxide Nanoparticles on Carbon Nanotubes through Nitrogen Doping to Catalyze Oxygen Reduction

Abstract

An efficient and low-cost oxygen catalyst for the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) was developed by in situ growth of Mn-Mo oxide nanoparticles on nitrogen-doped carbon nanotubes (NCNTs). Doped nitrogen effectively increases the electron conductivity of the MnMoO4@NCNT complex and the binding energy between the Mn-Mo oxide nanoparticles and carbon nanotubes (CNTs), leading to fast charge transfer and more catalytically active sites. Combining Mn and Mo with NCNTs improves the catalytic activity and promotes both electron and mass transfers, greatly enhancing the catalytic ability for ORR. As a result, MnMoO4@NCNT exhibited a comparable half-wave potential to commercial Pt/C and superior durability, demonstrating great potential for application in renewable energy conversion systems.

Keywords

• MnMoO₄/NCNT composites
• nitrogen doping
• oxygen reduction reaction
• platinum group metal (PGM)-free catalyst
• electrocatalysis