Nitrogen-doped graphene as efficient metal-free electrocatalyst for oxygen reduction in fuel cells.
Nitrogen-doped graphene (N-graphene) was synthesized by chemical vapor deposition of methane in the presence of ammonia. The resultant N-graphene was demonstrated to act as a metal-free electrode with a much better electrocatalytic activity, long-term operation stability, and tolerance to crossover effect than platinum for oxygen reduction via a four-electron pathway in alkaline fuel cells. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report on the use of graphene and its derivatives as metal-free catalysts for oxygen reduction. The important role of N-doping to oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) can be applied to various carbon materials for the development of other metal-free efficient ORR catalysts for fuel cell applications, even new catalytic materials for applications beyond fuel cells.
Qu
Liangti
L
Department of Chemistry, School of Science, Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing 100081, P. R. China.
Liu
Yong
Y
Baek
Jong-Beom
JB
Dai
Liming
L
D002244:Carbon / Q000737:chemistry*; D002384:Catalysis; D011211:Electric Power Supplies; D004563:Electrochemistry; D004566:Electrodes; D046529:Microscopy, Electron, Transmission; D009584:Nitrogen / Q000737:chemistry*; D010084:Oxidation-Reduction; D010100:Oxygen / Q000737:chemistry*; D056951:Photoelectron Spectroscopy; D013059:Spectrum Analysis, Raman
D002244:Carbon; D009584:Nitrogen; D010100:Oxygen