Issue 11, 2019

Boosting the oxygen reduction activity of a nano-graphene catalyst by charge redistribution at the graphene–metal interface

Abstract

N-Doped carbon materials have been intensively studied to replace Pt catalysts for the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) in anion exchange membrane fuel cells (AEMFCs). However, the low doping level in these catalysts results in a limited number of ORR active sites, so high catalyst loading is still required. Hence, the electrode thickness becomes extra thick, causing large mass transfer resistance in AEMFCs. In this study, we propose a unique hybrid catalyst concept utilizing charge redistribution at the graphene–transition metal interface to modify the electronic structure of graphene and simultaneously create multiple carbon active sites. The hybrid catalyst consists of n-type nano-graphene shells (NGS) three-dimensionally coated on the surface of transition metal nanoparticles highly dispersed on carbon supports. The n-type NGS catalysts efficiently facilitate oxygen adsorption owing to facile charge transfer from the metal nanoparticles underneath and provide abundant active carbon sites owing to their structural benefits. As a result, despite the same catalyst loading, the NGS catalyst shows high ORR activity and greater durability than a carbon-supported Pt (Pt/C) catalyst.

Graphical abstract: Boosting the oxygen reduction activity of a nano-graphene catalyst by charge redistribution at the graphene–metal interface

Supplementary files

Article information

Article type
Paper
Submitted
21 Dec 2018
Accepted
20 Feb 2019
First published
21 Feb 2019

Nanoscale, 2019,11, 5038-5047

Boosting the oxygen reduction activity of a nano-graphene catalyst by charge redistribution at the graphene–metal interface

H. Sung, M. Sharma, J. Jang, S. Lee, M. Choi, K. Lee and N. Jung, Nanoscale, 2019, 11, 5038 DOI: 10.1039/C8NR10327E

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