Article ID | Journal | Published Year | Pages | File Type |
---|---|---|---|---|
5478793 | Green Energy & Environment | 2017 | 7 Pages |
Abstract
Searching low cost and non-precious metal catalysts for high-performance oxygen reduction reaction is highly desired. Herein, Co nanoparticles embedded in nitrogen-doped carbon (Co/N-C) nanotubes with internal void space are successfully synthesized by space-confined pyrolysis, which effectively improve the cobalt loading content and restrict the encapsulated particles down to nanometer. Different from the typical conformal carbon encapsulation, the resulting Co/N-C nanotubes possess more cobalt nanoparticles embedded in the nanotubes, which can provide more coupling sites and active sites in the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR). Moreover, the one-dimensional and porous structure provides a high surface area and a fast electron transfer pathway for the ORR. And the Co/N-C electrode presents excellent electrocatalytic ORR activity in terms of low onset potential (30Â mV lower than that of Pt/C), small Tafel slop (45.5Â mVÂ decâ1) and good durability (88.5% retention after 10,000Â s).
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Authors
Jun Yang, Laiquan Li, Hong Yu, Hongbo Geng, Chengchao Li, Xiaochen Dong,