Improving Electroactivity of N-Doped Graphene Derivatives with Electrical Induction Heating

Abstract

Graphene derivatives doped with nitrogen have already been identified as active non-noble metal materials for oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) in PEM and alkaline fuel cells. However, an efficient and scalable method to prepare active, stable, and high-surface-area non-noble metal catalysts remains a challenge. Therefore, an efficient, potentially scalable strategy to improve the specific surface area of N-doped graphene derivatives needs to be developed. Here, we report a novel, rapid, and scalable electrical induction heating method for the preparation of N-doped heat-treated graphene oxide derivatives (N-htGOD) with a high specific surface area. The application of the induction heating method has been shown to shorten the reaction time and improve the energy efficiency of the process. The materials synthesized by induction heating exhibited very high specific surface area and showed improved ORR activity compared to the conventional synthesis method. Moreover, we demonstrated that the temperature program of induction heating could fine-tune the concentration of nitrogen functionalities. In particular, the graphitic-N configuration increases with increasing final temperature, in parallel with the increasing ORR activity. The presented results will contribute to the understanding and development of nonmetal N-htGOD for energy storage and conversion applications.

Effect of N doping on Electronic Band Structure and Magnetic Moments in Graphene Sheets: Density Functional Theory Study

“…[10]. Furthermore, by looking at this, the adsorption of one N atom can produce electrical changes in graphene [11]. Apart from that, it is closely related that when there is an electrical change there is also a magnetic change in it which results in N-doped graphene having magnetic properties like experimental data that has been carried out [12].…”

Performance of an Adaptive Optimization Paradigm for Optimal Operation of a Mono-Switch Class E Induction Heating Application

“…In this study, a class E inverter is used as the converter, as has been mentioned in the literature, especially in relation to its uses in induction cookers, which typically operate between 20 kHz and 50 kHz [14]. For induction stoves and burners to produce the desired heating effects (such as surface heating), or to meet technological criteria, a significantly higher frequency is typically employed [15,16]. The converter switching frequency is bounded by its commutation capabilities, as was mentioned earlier.…”