title: Electrochemical preparation of N-doped cobalt oxide nanoparticles with high electrocatalytic activity for the oxygen-reduction reaction.
abstract: Nitrogen-doped CoO (N-CoO) nanoparticles with high electrocatalytic activity for the oxygen-reduction reaction (ORR) were fabricated by electrochemical reduction of CoCl2 in acetonitrile solution at cathodic potentials. The initially generated, highly reactive nitrogen-doped Co nanoparticles were readily oxidized to N-CoO nanoparticles in air. In contrast to their N-free counterparts (CoO or Co3 O4 ), N-CoO nanoparticles with a N content of about 4.6 % exhibit remarkable ORR electrocatalytic activity, stability, and immunity to methanol crossover in an alkaline medium. The CoNx active sites in the CoO nanoparticles are held responsible for the high ORR activity. This work opens a new path for the preparation of nitrogen-doped transition metal oxide nanomaterials, which are promising electrocatalysts for fuel cells.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, 100875 (P.R. China).
authors.forename: Hongtao
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.forename: Yunchao
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Xiaohong
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Louzhen
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Fan
authors.forename: Shihe
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Yang
keywords: doping; electrocatalysis; electrochemistry; nanoparticles; oxygen-reduction reaction