Fe₃O₄@N-Doped Interconnected Hierarchical Porous Carbon and Its 3D Integrated Electrode for Oxygen Reduction in Acidic Media.

ABSTRACT: The rational design of electrode structure with catalysts adequately utilized is of vital importance for future fuel cells. Herein, a novel 3D oriented wholly integrated electrode comprising core-shell Fe₃O₄@N-doped-C (Fe₃O₄@NC) nanoparticles embedded into N-doped ordered interconnected hierarchical porous carbon (denoted as Fe₃O₄@NC/NHPC) is developed for the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR). The as-prepared catalyst possesses novel structure and efficient active sites. In rotating disk electrode measurements, the Fe₃O₄@NC/NHPC exhibits almost identical ORR electrocatalytic activity, superior durability, and much better methanol tolerance compared with the commercial Pt/C in acidic media. To the authors' knowledge, this is among the best non-precious-metal ORR catalysts reported so far. Importantly, the Fe₃O₄@NC/NHPC is successfully in situ assembled onto carbon paper by the electrophoresis method to obtain a well-designed 3D-ordered electrode. With improved mass transfer and maximized active sites for ORR, the 3D-oriented wholly integrated electrode shows superior performance to the one fabricated by the traditional method.

SUBMITTER: Wang Y 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7375250 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature