Carbon Nanodot Surface Modifications Initiate Highly Efficient, Stable Catalysts for Both Oxygen Evolution and Reduction Reactions

Abstract

Efficient, stable, and low‐cost electrocatalysts for the oxygen evolution and reduction reactions (OER and ORR) are essential components of energy conversion. Although much progress has been achieved in the development of platinum‐based electrocatalysts for ORR and iridium‐based electrocatalysts for OER, they are still not yet viable for large‐scale commercialization because of the high cost and scanty supply of the noble metals. Here, it is demonstrated that carbon nanodots surface‐modified with either phosphorus or amidogen can respectively achieve electrocatalytic activity approaching that of the benchmark Pt/C and IrO2 /C catalysts for ORR and OER. Furthermore, phosphorus (amidogen)‐modified carbon nanodots with attached Au nanoparticles exhibit superior ORR (OER) activity better than commercial Pt/C (IrO2/C) catalysts as well as excellent electrochemical stability under visible light.

Electrochemistry in Carbon‐based Quantum Dots

“…[83] N-CQDs are efficient oxygen evolution electrocatalyst owning to the interconnection and N-surface functionalization. [84] Besides, CQDs based nanocomposites, such as Co 3 O 4 /N-CQDs, [85] CoP/ CQDs, [86] NiCo 2 P 2 /CQDs, [87] MnO 2 /CQDs [88] and CoFe/CQDs [89] can also improve the OER performance. HER, as one of half reactions of electrocatalytic water splitting, is one of the most efficient ways to produce clean fuel (hydrogen) from water.…”

“…OER is a complex reaction and plays a key role in several energy conversion technologies such as EC water splitting, solar fuels and rechargeable metal‐air batteries field . N‐CQDs are efficient oxygen evolution electrocatalyst owning to the interconnection and N‐surface functionalization . Besides, CQDs based nanocomposites, such as Co 3 O 4 /N‐CQDs, CoP/CQDs, NiCo 2 P 2 /CQDs, MnO 2 /CQDs and CoFe/CQDs can also improve the OER performance.…”

Highly Active and Stable Pt–Pd Alloy Catalysts Synthesized by Room‐Temperature Electron Reduction for Oxygen Reduction Reaction

“…However, for applications of the Pt/C catalyst, there are still some critical issues to be solved, including sluggish kinetics of the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR), the poor stability, and the expensive price . Therefore, a number of strategies have been proposed for enhancing the electrocatalytic properties and reducing the cost of Pt‐based catalysts, such as improving the carbon support, changing the morphologies of Pt nanoparticles, and synthesizing Pt–M alloy catalysts …”

Defect Engineering of Carbon‐based Electrocatalysts for Rechargeable Zinc‐air Batteries

“…[5][6][7] The oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) during discharge and the oxygen evolution reaction (OER) during charging are the key processes of the rechargeable ZABs. [8][9] Therefore, it is necessary to explore bifunctional catalysts that are economically feasible, cost-effective, durable and highly active to efficiently accelerate the sluggish ORR/OER kinetics. In the past years, the bifunctional catalysts for the rechargeable ZABs have been mainly classified into three categories, including metal-based carbon-free catalysts, carbon-based metal-free materials and their hybrids materials.…”

“…Due to the innate safety that arises from using aqueous electrolytes, ZABs are regarded as promising candidates for the next generation safe and high‐performance energy storage devices [5–7] . The oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) during discharge and the oxygen evolution reaction (OER) during charging are the key processes of the rechargeable ZABs [8–9] . Therefore, it is necessary to explore bifunctional catalysts that are economically feasible, cost‐effective, durable and highly active to efficiently accelerate the sluggish ORR/OER kinetics.…”