Self-templated synthesis of novel carbon nanoarchitectures for efficient electrocatalysis.
The cost-efficient large-scale production of novel carbon nanostructure with high performance is still a challenge, restricting their applications in catalysis. Herein, we present a low-cost one-pot and one-step approach for the synthesis of both N-doped graphene (NG) and N-doped carbon nanotubes (NCNTs) from self-templated organic nanoplates. By varying the FeCl3 concentration in the precursor, we can control the formation of graphene or CNTs. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first example for the controllable synthesis of graphene or CNTs by varying the precursors' compositions. This provides a simple and cost-effective route for the large-scale production of both NG and NCNTs for applications in catalysis. By example, we show how these unique structured nanocarbons can be applied in electrocatalysis for oxygen reduction reaction (ORR). The obtained NG and NCNTs show excellent ORR activities with long-term stability under alkaline conditions. The unique porous nanostructure, abundant defects, homogeneous N-doping and high N-content in the NG and NCNTs can provide abundant active sites, leading to the excellent ORR performance. This research not only displayed a simple and cost-effective approach for the large-scale production of novel carbon nanoarchitectures, but also revealed the exceptional application potential of these nanocarbons for electrocatalysis.
School of Nuclear Science and Technology, Division of Nanomaterials &Chemistry, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230026, P.R. China.|School of Environment and Chemical Engineering, North China Electric Power University, Beijing 102206, China.|College of Geography and Environmental Science, Zhejiang Normal University, Jinhua 321004, China.|Max Plank Institute for Polymer Research, Ackermannweg 10, 55128, Mainz, Germany.
Xi-Lin
XL
Wu
School of Environment and Chemical Engineering, North China Electric Power University, Beijing 102206, China.|Key Laboratory of Novel Thin Film Solar Cells, Institute of Plasma Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hefei 230031, P.R. China.
Tao
T
Wen
School of Nuclear Science and Technology, Division of Nanomaterials &Chemistry, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230026, P.R. China.
Hong-Li
HL
Guo
School of Nuclear Science and Technology, Division of Nanomaterials &Chemistry, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230026, P.R. China.
Shoujie
S
Liu
School of Environment and Chemical Engineering, North China Electric Power University, Beijing 102206, China.|Key Laboratory of Novel Thin Film Solar Cells, Institute of Plasma Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hefei 230031, P.R. China.
Xiangke
X
Wang
School of Nuclear Science and Technology, Division of Nanomaterials &Chemistry, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230026, P.R. China.
An-Wu
AW
Xu
Max Plank Institute for Polymer Research, Ackermannweg 10, 55128, Mainz, Germany.|Institute of Physics, Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, 55128 Mainz, Germany.
Markus
M
Mezger
D002384:Catalysis; D002712:Chlorides; D004563:Electrochemistry; D005290:Ferric Compounds; D006108:Graphite / Q000737:chemistry*; D037742:Nanotubes, Carbon / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000191:economics
D002712:Chlorides; D005290:Ferric Compounds; D037742:Nanotubes, Carbon; D006108:Graphite; C024555:ferric chloride