Carbon tube-graphene heterostructure with different N-doping configurations induces an electrochemically active-active interface for efficient oxygen electrocatalysis
Research output: Journal Publications and Reviews (RGC: 21, 22, 62) › 21_Publication in refereed journal › peer-review
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Detail(s)
Original language | English |
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Article number | 133730 |
Journal / Publication | Chemical Engineering Journal |
Volume | 431 |
Issue number | 4 |
Online published | 22 Nov 2021 |
Publication status | Published - 1 Mar 2022 |
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Abstract
To accelerate the sluggish kinetics for oxygen reduction/evolution reaction (ORR/OER) of metal-free carbon catalysts, we here report an electrochemically active-active interface for promoting ORR/OER kinetics, which is constructed by in-situ coupling N-doped sub-micron carbon tubes (N-SMCTs, electron donors) with N-doped reduced graphene oxide (N-rGO, electron acceptors). We find that N-SMCTs@N-rGO yields superior bifunctional ORR/OER activity with high durability (E1/2 of 0.87 V for ORR, η10 of 351 mV for OER). Moreover, the zinc-air battery with this material as an electrode displays high power density of 126 mW cm−2 with excellent cycle stability. Density functional theory (DFT) unveils a dual-site mechanism: the carbon adjacent to graphitic-N in N-SMCTs is the most active site for *OOH intermediate while the carbon neighboring to pyridinic-N in N-rGO is beneficial for the adsorption of *O/*OH intermediates. The unique active-active interface with dual-site mechanism suggests its potential to overcome energy barrier bottleneck in the traditional bifunctional oxygen catalysts.
Research Area(s)
- Active-active interface, Dual active sites, Metal-free electrocatalysts, ORR/OER
Citation Format(s)
Carbon tube-graphene heterostructure with different N-doping configurations induces an electrochemically active-active interface for efficient oxygen electrocatalysis. / Zhao, Jing; Li, Qianqian; Zhang, Qichun et al.
In: Chemical Engineering Journal, Vol. 431, No. 4, 133730, 01.03.2022.Research output: Journal Publications and Reviews (RGC: 21, 22, 62) › 21_Publication in refereed journal › peer-review