Logo image
Cobalt Nanoparticle‐Embedded Porous Carbon Nanofibers with Inherent N‐ and F‐Doping as Binder‐Free Bifunctional Catalysts for Oxygen Reduction and Evolution Reactions
Journal article   Peer reviewed

Cobalt Nanoparticle‐Embedded Porous Carbon Nanofibers with Inherent N‐ and F‐Doping as Binder‐Free Bifunctional Catalysts for Oxygen Reduction and Evolution Reactions

Richa Singhal and Vibha Kalra
Chemphyschem, v 18(2)
18 Jan 2017
PMID: 27813238

Abstract

cobalt nanoparticles bifunctional catalyst electrospinning carbon nanofibers oxygen reaction electrode
Efficient, low‐cost, non‐precious metal‐based, and stable bifunctional electrocatalysts are key to various energy storage and conversion devices such as regenerative fuel cells and metal‐air batteries. In this work, we report cobalt nanoparticle‐embedded porous carbon nanofibers with inherent N‐ and F‐doping as binder‐free bifunctional electrocatalysts with excellent activity for both the oxygen reduction and oxygen evolution reaction (ORR/OER) in an alkaline medium. Single‐step electrospinning of a solution of the polymer mixture (carbon precursor) and the cobalt precursor followed by controlled pyrolysis with an intermediate reduction step in H2 (to reduce cobalt oxides to cobalt) was utilized to synthesize an integrated freestanding catalyst. The fabricated catalyst with effective structural and electronic interaction between the cobalt metal nanoparticles and the N‐ and F‐doped carbon defect sites showed enhanced catalytic properties compared to the benchmark catalysts for ORR and OER (Pt, Ir, and Ru). The ORR potential at the current density of −3 mA cm−2 was 0.81 VRHE and the OER potential at a current density of 10 mA cm−2 was 1.595 VRHE, resulting in a ΔE of only 0.785 V. Desirable defects: A bifunctional oxygen reduction reaction and oxygen evolution reaction (ORR/OER) electrocatalyst utilizing the synergy between cobalt nanoparticles and N‐and F‐doped carbon defect sites is reported. The catalyst was prepared by single‐step electrospinning of a solution of the polymer mixture and subsequent controlled pyrolysis including an intermediate reduction step.

Metrics

3 Record Views
34 citations in Scopus

Details

UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

This publication has contributed to the advancement of the following goals:

#7 Affordable and Clean Energy

InCites Highlights

Data related to this publication, from InCites Benchmarking & Analytics tool:

Web of Science research areas
Chemistry, Physical
Physics, Atomic, Molecular & Chemical
Logo image