In Situ Synthesis of Co3O4 Nanoparticles on N-Doped Biochar as High-Performance Oxygen Reduction Reaction Electrocatalysts
Year: 2024
Type: article
Abstract: The development of sustainable and high-performance oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) electrocatalysts is fundamental to fuel cell implementation. Non-precious transition metal oxides present interesting electrocatalytic behavior, and their incorporation into N-doped carbon supports leads to excellent ORR performance. Herein, we prepared a shrimp shell-derived biochar (CC), which was doped with nitrogen via a ball milling approach (N-CC), and then used as support for Co3O4 nanoparticles growth (N-CC@Co3O4). Co3O4 loading was optimized using three different amounts of cobalt precursor: 1.56, 2.33 and 3.11 mmol in N-CC@Co3O4_1, N-CC@Co3O4_2 and N-CC@Co3O4_3, respectively. Interestingly, all prepared electrocatalysts, including the initial biochar CC, presented electrocatalytic activity towards ORR. Both N-doping and the introduction of Co3O4 NPs had a significant positive effect on ORR performance. Meanwhile, the three composites showed distinct ORR behavior, demonstrating that it is possible to tune their electrocatalytic performance by changing the Co3O4 loading. Overall, N-CC@Co3O4_2 achieved the most promising ORR results, displaying an Eonset of 0.84 V vs. RHE, jL of −3.45 mA cm−2 and excellent selectivity for the 4-electron reduction (n = 3.50), besides good long-term stability. These results were explained by a combination of high content of pyridinic-N and graphitic-N, high ratio of pyridinic-N/graphitic-N, and optimized Co3O4 loading interacting synergistically with the porous N-CC support.
Source: Catalysts
Authors: Renata Matos, Jorge V. Manuel, António J. S. Fernandes, Victor K. Abdelkader-Fernández, Andreia F. Peixoto, Diana M. Fernandes
Language: English
Field: Energy
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $3,069
Awards: G1240268737, Char-based materials: the quest for efficient O2 and CO2 electrocatalysts (Char4ENER), G1826204064, Laboratório Associado para a Química Verde - Tecnologias e Processos Limpos, Laboratório Associado para a Química Verde - Tecnologias e Processos Limpos, G2756637201, G2814222956, G2839311545, Biochar-based materials for emerging applications: O2 and CO2 electroreduction, G5183401646, Produção de bioaminas a partir de cascas de crustáceos usando processos catalíticos sustentáveis, G567200461, G6119126181, G6518216428, G6997658380, G824076568, G8269848966, Laboratório Associado para a Química Verde - Tecnologias e Processos Limpos, G8963217260, G9000044912
OpenAlex ID: W4405736816