Alginate derived Co3O4/Co nanoparticles decorated in N-doped porous carbon as an efficient bifunctional catalyst for oxygen evolution and reduction reactions

作者：Zhan, Tianrong^*; Lu, Sisi; Liu, Xiaolin; Teng, Hongni; Hou, Wanguo

来源：Electrochimica Acta, 2018, 265: 681-689.

DOI：10.1016/j.electacta.2018.02.006

• Sodium alginate
• Co, N-doped carbon material
• Oxygen evolution reaction
• Oxygen reduction reaction
• Bifunctional catalyst

Fabricating high-performance and low-cost bifunctional electrocatalysts for both oxygen evolution and reduction reactions is vital for the practical application of renewable energy conversion. Herein, a hybrid of Co3O4/Co active species incorporated in N-doped porous carbon matrix, denoted as Co3O4/Co-NPC, has been prepared using a scalable and facile method involving the carbonization of alginate composite after a Co ion exchange with sustainable seaweed biomass. The 3D Co3O4/Co-NPC exhibits good bifunctional oxygen electrocatalytic performance in alkaline medium. The proposed catalyst gives the smaller onset potential (1.450 V vs. RHE) and overpotential (277 mV) at 10 mA cm(-2) current density, indicating a superior oxygen evolution reaction activity to commercial IrO2 catalyst. It also performs the excellent oxygen reduction catalytic activity with larger onset potential (0.91 V vs. RHE), more positive half wave potential (0.806 V vs. RHE) and bigger diffusion-limiting current density (-5.86 mA cm(-2) at 0.4 V). The Co3O4/Co-NPC hybrid experiences an almost ideal 4e process with better long-term stability and anti-methanol ability than commercial Pt/C catalyst in 0.1 M KOH. The prominent bifunctional activity of Co3O4/Co-NPC can be due to the synergistic effects of the well dispersed Co3O4/Co active species and N-doped porous carbon nanostructure.

• 出版日期2018-3-1
• 单位青岛科技大学; 山东科技大学