A novel design concept of a three-dimensional graphene shell encapsulated cobalt nanostructure as a new route to tune the work function of graphene for enhanced ORR.

Reversible formate (HCOO–) dehydrogenation and bicarbonate (HCO3 –) hydrogenation would be desirable for the utilization and storage of hydrogen (H2) as an effective energy carrier. Carbon-supported Pd-based nanoparticles demonstrated enormous competitive advantages for these reactions. However, the fundamental mechanisms underlying these reversible reactions have not yet been elucidated. Herein, we report the reaction pathways for reversible reactions on a Pd-based catalyst using density functional theory (DFT) calculations and propose key factors for improving the reaction efficiency. As the first essential step, the difficulty in the conventional DFT modeling, that is simulation of an anion environment caused by HCOO–, was overcome by designing two-sided Pd12 nanoclusters supported on graphene (Pd12NC-G) with extra electrons. Using Pd12NC-G, we demonstrated that the key factor determining the potential limiting steps for the reversible reaction was desorption of hydrogen in HCOO– dehydrogenation (1.24 eV) and HCO3 – hydrogenation (1.49 eV). The key factor was the same in Pd12NC-N1G, Pd12NC-N2G, and Pd12NC-N3G (where N1, N2, and N3 represent the number of N atoms doped on carbon). Among these, the Pd12NC-N2G model with the appropriate amount of nitrogen doping showed optimal hydrogen adsorption strength corresponding to the smallest d-band center and spin density values, resulting in the lowest energy barriers for HCOO– dehydrogenation (0.76 eV) and HCO3 – hydrogenation (0.96 eV). Based on harmonization between electronic and geometrical properties, we demonstrated that the appropriate level of nitrogen doping can provide the optimal balance between the magnitude of reactivity and the number of sites for improving the efficiency of the reversible reactions.

To date, carbon-based materials including various carbon nanostructured materials have been extensively used as an electrocatalyst support for proton exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC) applications due to their practical nature. However, carbon dissolution or corrosion caused by high electrode potential in the presence of O2 and/or water has been identified as one of the main failure modes for the device operation. Here, we report the first TiN nanofiber (TNF)-based nonwoven structured materials to be constructed via electrospinning and subsequent two-step thermal treatment processes as a support for the PEMFC catalyst. Pt catalyst nanoparticles (NPs) deposited on the TNFs (Pt/TNFs) were electrochemically characterized with respect to oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) activity and durability in an acidic medium. From the electrochemical tests, the TNF-supported Pt catalyst was better and more stable in terms of its catalytic performance compared to a commercially available carbon-supported Pt catalyst. For example, the initial oxygen reduction performance was comparable for both cases, while the Pt/TNF showed much higher durability from an accelerated degradation test (ADT) configuration. It is understood that the improved catalytic roles of TNFs on the supported Pt NPs for ORR are due to the high electrical conductivity arising from the extended connectivity, high inertness to the electrochemical environment and strong catalyst-support interactions.

No abstract

No abstract