TY - JOUR
T1 - Boosting the oxygen bifunctional activity on cobalt nanocrystals/RGO with extended durability
AU - Bhuvanendran, Narayanamoorthy
AU - Ravichandran, Sabarinathan
AU - Kumar R, Selva
AU - Lee, Sae Youn
AU - Su, Huaneng
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2023 Elsevier Ltd
PY - 2023/12
Y1 - 2023/12
N2 - Nanoengineering effective bifunctional electrocatalysts for oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) and oxygen evolution reaction (OER) remains a major challenge in improving the performance of electrochemical energy conversion devices. In this study, we present a simple synthesis route for producing Co-Nx crystals that are effectively arranged on reduced graphene oxide layers (Co–N/RGO) through mechanochemical treatment. The Co–N/RGO catalyst performs well as a bifunctional oxygen electrocatalyst. Specifically, the Co–N/RGO-700 has an earlier ORR onset (0.91 V) and a half-wave potential (0.79 V) with a higher kinetic current density of 6.6 mA cm−2 than Pt/C, as well as a lower overpotential (430 mV) and Tafel slope (115 mV dec−1) for the OER. These results demonstrate outstanding performance compared to reported Co-based catalysts. Theoretical modeling and experimental results explore the Co–N/RGO active sites, as well as the vital role of electronic structure, abundant N content, and surface defects, confirming it as a potential electrode material for energy conversion applications.
AB - Nanoengineering effective bifunctional electrocatalysts for oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) and oxygen evolution reaction (OER) remains a major challenge in improving the performance of electrochemical energy conversion devices. In this study, we present a simple synthesis route for producing Co-Nx crystals that are effectively arranged on reduced graphene oxide layers (Co–N/RGO) through mechanochemical treatment. The Co–N/RGO catalyst performs well as a bifunctional oxygen electrocatalyst. Specifically, the Co–N/RGO-700 has an earlier ORR onset (0.91 V) and a half-wave potential (0.79 V) with a higher kinetic current density of 6.6 mA cm−2 than Pt/C, as well as a lower overpotential (430 mV) and Tafel slope (115 mV dec−1) for the OER. These results demonstrate outstanding performance compared to reported Co-based catalysts. Theoretical modeling and experimental results explore the Co–N/RGO active sites, as well as the vital role of electronic structure, abundant N content, and surface defects, confirming it as a potential electrode material for energy conversion applications.
KW - Co-N
KW - Crystal growth
KW - Oxygen evolution reaction
KW - Oxygen reduction reaction
KW - Reduced graphene oxide
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85181685088&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.mtsust.2023.100596
DO - 10.1016/j.mtsust.2023.100596
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:85181685088
SN - 2589-2347
VL - 24
JO - Materials Today Sustainability
JF - Materials Today Sustainability
M1 - 100596
ER -