Mixed Copper/Copper‐Oxide Anchored Mesoporous Fullerene Nanohybrids as Superior Electrocatalysts toward Oxygen Reduction Reaction

Abstract

Developing a highly active, stable, and efficient non‐noble metal‐free functional electrocatalyst to supplant the benchmark Pt/C‐based catalysts in practical fuel cell applications remains a stupendous challenge. A rational strategy is developed to directly anchor highly active and dispersed copper (Cu) nanospecies on mesoporous fullerenes (referred to as Cu‐MFC60) toward enhancing oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) electrocatalysis. The preparation of Cu‐MFC60 involves i) the synthesis of ordered MFC60 via the prevalent nanohard templating technique and ii) the postfunctionalization of MFC60 with finely distributed Cu nanospecies through incipient wet impregnation. The concurrence of Cu and cuprous oxide nanoparticles in the as‐developed Cu‐MFC60 samples through relevant material characterizations is affirmed. The optimized ORR catalyst, Cu(15%)‐MFC60, exhibits superior electrocatalytic ORR characteristics with an onset potential of 0.860 vs reversible hydrogen electrode, diffusion‐limiting current density (−5.183 mA cm−2), improved stability, and tolerance to methanol crossover along with a high selectivity (four‐electron transfer). This enhanced ORR performance can be attributed to the rapid mass transfer and abundant active sites owing to the synergistic coupling effects arising from the mixed copper nanospecies and the fullerene framework.

Non-Enzymatic Amperometric Glucose Sensor Based on Carbon Nanodots and Copper Oxide Nanocomposites Electrode

“…In this work, we used copper oxide (CuO) as a catalyst because of its superior capabilities-low cost, low toxicity, facile preparation, and remarkable electrochemical catalytic property [33][34][35][36]. The electrocatalysis process of glucose oxidation is mediated by Cu(II) in an alkaline solution, which oxidizes into Cu(III) on the surface electrode.…”

Performance Improvement in Direct Methanol Fuel Cells by Using CaTiO3-δ Additive at the Cathode

“…Several approaches of the last decade were explored with the aim to reduce cost and improve ORR in the presence of permeated methanol [6][7][8][9][10][11][12]. Pt-alloys exhibit enhanced electrocatalytic activity for the ORR compared to Pt alone [13,14], due to both electronic factors (i.e., higher level of Pt d-band vacancy) and geometric effects (i.e., optimized Pt-Pt interatomic distance).…”

Metal–organic framework based bifunctional oxygen electrocatalysts for rechargeable zinc–air batteries: current progress and prospects

“…[99][100][101] However, the conductivity of metal oxides limits their catalytic activity. 57,61,[102][103][104][105] It is worth noting that the use of metal oxides and metal nanoparticle composites, or xed metal oxides on a highly conductive carbon matrix and other reasonable strategies can effectively promote the internal and surface charge transfer and maximize the utilization of active sites, which can further improve the efficiency of ZABs. 102,106,107 The weak coordinate bond and uniform morphology of MOFs make them good precursors to prepare hollow nanostructures using the Kirkendall effect.…”