Electrocatalytic Activity and Stability of Nitrogen-Containing Carbon Nanotubes in the Oxygen Reduction Reaction

Kundu, Shankhamala; Nagaiah, Tharamani C.; Xia, Wei; Wang, Yuemin; Dommele, S. van; Bitter, Johannes H.; Santa, M.; Grundmeier, Guido; Bron, Michael; Schuhmann, Wolfgang; Mühler, Martin

doi:10.1021/jp811320d

Cited by 550 publications

(437 citation statements)

References 56 publications

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“…graphene [10,[23][24][25][26][27][28][29][30][31][32][33], carbon nanotubes [11,20,21,[34][35][36][37][38][39][40][41][42][43], carbon nanofibers [12,[44][45][46][47], mesoporous carbon [15,22], graphitic carbon [48,49], carbon spheres [19,[50][51][52][53], carbon nanocages 4 [54], flower-like carbon [55], carbon aerogel [56,57], vesicular carbon [58], nanodiamonds [59]) relatively few have been tested in actual fuel cell conditions [58,[60][61][62]…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Highly efficient cathode catalyst layer based on nitrogen-doped carbon nanotubes for the alkaline direct methanol fuel cell

Kanninen

Borghei

Sorsa

et al. 2014

Applied Catalysis B: Environmental

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Highly efficient cathode catalyst layer based on nitrogen-doped carbon nanotubes for the alkaline direct methanol fuel cell

Kanninen

Borghei

Sorsa

et al. 2014

Applied Catalysis B: Environmental

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“…This is an additional advantage for the metal-free NCNTs to be used for the ORR as the pyridinic group has been shown to be more active than its pyrrolic counterpart. 9 For the ORR measurements, the as-synthesized NCNTs were transferred onto a glassy carbon (GC) electrode (Supporting Information). As seen in Figure 3a, the NCNT/GC electrode shows a substantial reduction process at about 0.2 V in the presence of oxygen, while no obvious response was observed at the same potential range under N 2 .…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Highly Efficient Metal-Free Growth of Nitrogen-Doped Single-Walled Carbon Nanotubes on Plasma-Etched Substrates for Oxygen Reduction

2010

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Abstract:We have for the first time developed a simple plasmaetching technology to effectively generate metal-free particle catalysts for efficient metal-free growth of undoped and/or nitrogen-doped single-walled carbon nanotubes (CNTs). Compared with undoped CNTs, the newly produced metal-free nitrogen-containing CNTs were demonstrated to show relatively good electrocatalytic activity and long-term stability toward oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) in an acidic medium. Owing to the highly generic nature of the plasma etching technique, the methodology developed in this study can be applied to many other substrates for efficient growth of metal-free CNTs for various applications, ranging from energy related to electronic and to biomedical systems.The metal residuals from metal nanoparticles used as catalysts for the conventional CNT growth often cause detrimental effects undesirable for various applications, including electronic and biological systems. 1 The recent discovery of metal-free growth of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) has offered an alternative approach to carbon nanomaterials with novel properties attractive for many existing and new applications. 2,3 Along with the recent intensive research efforts in reducing or replacing the Pt-based electrode in fuel cells, 4 Gong et al. 5 have recently found that vertically aligned nitrogen-containing carbon nanotubes (VA-NCNTs) could act as extremely effective metal-free electrocatalysts for the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR), a key factor to limiting the performance of a fuel cell. The metal-free VA-NCNTs were shown to catalyze an efficient four-electron ORR process free from CO "poisoning" with a much higher electrocatalytic activity and better long-term operation stability than those of commercially available Pt-based electrodes in alkaline electrolytes. 5 This finding has a large impact on the fuel cell field and the catalyst community, and its repercussions are continuing. 6 However, the CNTs used in the previous report 5 were produced by pyrolysis of iron(II) phthalocyanine (a metal heterocyclic molecule containing nitrogen) 7 with the residual Fe catalyst particles being removed by electrochemical oxidation. Although great care was taken during the nanotube electropurification and similar ORR electrocatalytic performance has also been reported for nitrogen-doped ordered mesoporous graphitic arrays prepared by a metal-free nanocasting technology, 6h possible effects of metal contaminates in the NCNTs on the observed superb ORR performance could still be a matter of controversy, 8,9 unless NCNTs with good ORR electrocatalytic activities can be produced by a metal-free preparation procedure. In this regard, it will be a significant advancement if we can develop a metal-free growth process to produce NCNTs for the ORR and other applications. As far as we are aware, however, no NCNT has been produced by the metal-free growth and possible use of nitrogen-free CNTs produced by the metal-free growth has also been largely precluded by its low growth efficiency. 2,3 ...

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“…Whereas the majority of recent studies on carbon nanostructured metal-free electrocatalysts focus on ORR reactions in alkaline electrolytes, fuel cells that operate with acidic electrolytes, particularly polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells (PEMFC) [14,15], can have a more significant economic impact. Therefore, the development of effective metal-free carbon-based catalysts for acidic electrolytes is important, though still challenging [16,[145][146][147][148][149][150].…”

Section: Carbon-based Metal-free Orr Electrocatalysts For Fuel Cellsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Carbon-Based Metal-Free Electrocatalysis for Energy Conversion, Energy Storage, and Environmental Protection

Xiao

Zou

et al. 2018

Electrochem. Energ. Rev.

167

103

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Carbon-based metal-free catalysts possess desirable properties such as high earth abundance, low cost, high electrical conductivity, structural tunability, good selectivity, strong stability in acidic/alkaline conditions, and environmental friendliness. Because of these properties, these catalysts have recently received increasing attention in energy and environmental applications. Subsequently, various carbon-based electrocatalysts have been developed to replace noble metal catalysts for low-cost renewable generation and storage of clean energy and environmental protection through metal-free electrocatalysis. This article provides an up-to-date review of this rapidly developing field by critically assessing recent advances in the mechanistic understanding, structure design, and material/device fabrication of metal-free carbon-based electrocatalysts for clean energy conversion/storage and environmental protection, along with discussions on current challenges and perspectives. Graphical AbstractKeywords Metal-free electrocatalysis · Carbon-based catalysts · Energy conversion and storage · Environmental protection

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Electrocatalytic Activity and Stability of Nitrogen-Containing Carbon Nanotubes in the Oxygen Reduction Reaction

Cited by 550 publications

References 56 publications

Highly efficient cathode catalyst layer based on nitrogen-doped carbon nanotubes for the alkaline direct methanol fuel cell

Highly efficient cathode catalyst layer based on nitrogen-doped carbon nanotubes for the alkaline direct methanol fuel cell

Highly Efficient Metal-Free Growth of Nitrogen-Doped Single-Walled Carbon Nanotubes on Plasma-Etched Substrates for Oxygen Reduction

Carbon-Based Metal-Free Electrocatalysis for Energy Conversion, Energy Storage, and Environmental Protection

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