Remarkable electrochemical properties of electrochemically reduced graphene oxide towards oxygen reduction reaction are caused by residual metal-based impurities

• Electrochemically reduced graphene oxide (ErGO) prepared using Hummers method contains residual Mn-based impurities.
• The impurities appear to be responsible for the enhanced ORR on ErGO
• The impurities are responsible for enhanced ORR on ErGO.

Oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) is one of the most important electrochemical reactions in the field of energy storage. Remarkable catalytic properties towards ORR at “metal-free” electrochemically reduced graphene oxide (ErGO) were previously reported. We demonstrate here that the remarkable enhancement towards ORR of a “metal-free” ErGO is caused by residual metallic impurities instead of ErGO itself.

Oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) is one of the most important electrochemical reactions in the field of energy storage. Remarkable catalytic properties towards ORR at “metal-free” electrochemically reduced graphene oxide (ErGO) were previously reported. We demonstrate here that the remarkable enhancement towards ORR of a “metal-free” ErGO could be caused by residual metallic impurities instead of ErGO itself.Figure optionsDownload as PowerPoint slide