Issue 39, 2016, Issue in Progress

Co-supported catalysts on nitrogen and sulfur co-doped vertically-aligned carbon nanotubes for oxygen reduction reaction

Abstract

Co supported on nitrogen and sulfur co-doped vertically-aligned carbon nanotubes (Co/NS-CNT) has been fabricated as an efficient electrocatalyst for oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) by a two-step process involving sputtering of cobalt and subsequent annealing in a nitrogen and sulfur-containing atmosphere. The surface morphology, crystal structure and chemical composition of the samples have been investigated. Both cyclic voltammetry (CV) and rotating-disk electrode (RDE) measurements reveal that the annealing temperature has a significant impact on the ORR activity of the catalyst in both alkaline and acid electrolytes. And the best ORR performance is achieved for the catalyst annealed at 600 °C (Co/NS-CNT-600) in 0.1 M KOH solution, which exhibits an onset potential of 0.962 V and an ORR peak potential of 0.803 V. Rotating ring-disk electrode (RRDE) testing in KOH shows an electron transfer number of around 3.7, indicating a four-electron pathway-dominated ORR process. The Co/NS-CNT-600 catalyst also exhibits the best ORR catalytic activity in 0.5 M H2SO4 medium. The excellent ORR activity of the Co/NS-CNT catalyst is attributed to the synergistic effects from N and S co-doping and the increased active sites from metallic cobalt or CoS2.

Graphical abstract: Co-supported catalysts on nitrogen and sulfur co-doped vertically-aligned carbon nanotubes for oxygen reduction reaction

Supplementary files

Article information

Article type
Paper
Submitted
10 Jan 2016
Accepted
23 Mar 2016
First published
24 Mar 2016

RSC Adv., 2016,6, 32676-32684

Co-supported catalysts on nitrogen and sulfur co-doped vertically-aligned carbon nanotubes for oxygen reduction reaction

Y. Liu, B. Zhao, Y. Zhang, H. Zhang, K. Zhan, J. Yang and J. Li, RSC Adv., 2016, 6, 32676 DOI: 10.1039/C6RA00752J

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