title: Oxygen reduction catalyzed by gold nanoclusters supported on carbon nanosheets.
abstract: Nanocomposites based on p-mercaptobenzoic acid-functionalized gold nanoclusters, Au102(p-MBA)44, and porous carbon nanosheets have been fabricated and employed as highly efficient electrocatalysts for oxygen reduction reaction (ORR). Au102(p-MBA)44 clusters were synthesized via a wet chemical approach, and loaded onto carbon nanosheets. Pyrolysis at elevated temperatures led to effective removal of the thiolate ligands and the formation of uniform nanoparticles supported on the carbon scaffolds. The nanocomposite structures were characterized by using a wide range of experimental techniques such as transmission electron microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, UV-visible absorption spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis and BET nitrogen adsorption/desorption. Electrochemical studies showed that the composites demonstrated apparent ORR activity in alkaline media, and the sample with a 30% Au mass loading was identified as the best catalyst among the series, with a performance comparable to that of commercial Pt/C, but superior to those of Au102 nanoclusters and carbon nanosheets alone, within the context of onset potential, kinetic current density, and durability. The results suggest an effective approach to the preparation of high-performance ORR catalysts based on gold nanoclusters supported on carbon nanosheets.
authors.affiliation: New Energy Research Institute, School of Environment and Energy, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou Higher Education Mega Centre, Guangzhou, 510006, P. R. China. zhht@scut.edu.cn.
authors.forename: Qiannan
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: New Energy Research Institute, School of Environment and Energy, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou Higher Education Mega Centre, Guangzhou, 510006, P. R. China. zhht@scut.edu.cn.
authors.forename: Likai
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: New Energy Research Institute, School of Environment and Energy, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou Higher Education Mega Centre, Guangzhou, 510006, P. R. China. zhht@scut.edu.cn and Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Atmospheric Environment and Pollution Control, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510006, P. R. China.
authors.forename: Zhenghua
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Tang
authors.affiliation: Zijin Mining Group Co. Ltd, Shanghang, Fujian 364200, P. R. China.
authors.forename: Fucai
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: New Energy Research Institute, School of Environment and Energy, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou Higher Education Mega Centre, Guangzhou, 510006, P. R. China. zhht@scut.edu.cn.
authors.forename: Wei
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Yan
authors.affiliation: New Energy Research Institute, School of Environment and Energy, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou Higher Education Mega Centre, Guangzhou, 510006, P. R. China. zhht@scut.edu.cn.
authors.forename: Hongyu
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.affiliation: New Energy Research Institute, School of Environment and Energy, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou Higher Education Mega Centre, Guangzhou, 510006, P. R. China. zhht@scut.edu.cn.
authors.forename: Weijia
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.affiliation: New Energy Research Institute, School of Environment and Energy, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou Higher Education Mega Centre, Guangzhou, 510006, P. R. China. zhht@scut.edu.cn.
authors.forename: Ligui
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: New Energy Research Institute, School of Environment and Energy, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou Higher Education Mega Centre, Guangzhou, 510006, P. R. China. zhht@scut.edu.cn.
authors.forename: Xiongwu
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Kang
authors.affiliation: New Energy Research Institute, School of Environment and Energy, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou Higher Education Mega Centre, Guangzhou, 510006, P. R. China. zhht@scut.edu.cn and Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California, 1156 High Street, Santa Cruz, California 95064, USA. shaowei@ucsc.edu.
authors.forename: Shaowei
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Chen