Facile and gram-scale synthesis of metal-free catalysts: toward realistic applications for fuel cells

Scientific Reports
Ok-Hee KimYung-Eun Sung

Abstract

Although numerous reports on nonprecious metal catalysts for replacing expensive Pt-based catalysts have been published, few of these studies have demonstrated their practical application in fuel cells. In this work, we report graphitic carbon nitride and carbon nanofiber hybrid materials synthesized by a facile and gram-scale method via liquid-based reactions, without the use of toxic materials or a high pressure-high temperature reactor, for use as fuel cell cathodes. The resulting materials exhibited remarkable methanol tolerance, selectivity, and stability even without a metal dopant. Furthermore, these completely metal-free catalysts exhibited outstanding performance as cathode materials in an actual fuel cell device: a membrane electrode assembly with both acidic and alkaline polymer electrolytes. The fabrication method and remarkable performance of the single cell produced in this study represent progressive steps toward the realistic application of metal-free cathode electrocatalysts in fuel cells.

References

Jun 21, 2003·Organic Letters·Mackay B Steffensen, Eric E Simanek
May 21, 2008·Journal of the American Chemical Society·James R Holst, Edward G Gillan
Oct 28, 2011·Angewandte Chemie·Dang Sheng Su, Gongquan Sun
Feb 20, 2013·Physical Chemistry Chemical Physics : PCCP·Jie XuYong Cao
May 4, 2013·Chemical Society Reviews·Yan-Jie WangJiujun Zhang
May 8, 2013·Journal of the American Chemical Society·Rafael SilvaTewodros Asefa

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Citations

Feb 18, 2016·Chemical Reviews·Minhua ShaoRegis Chenitz
Jan 21, 2016·ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces·Zongkui KouShichun Mu
Apr 16, 2015·Physical Chemistry Chemical Physics : PCCP·Minxian WuJan Fransaer
May 26, 2021·Advanced Science·Junfeng ZhangMichael D Guiver
Aug 3, 2017·ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces·Jungwon ParkChang Yeon Lee

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Methods Mentioned

BETA
X-ray
NMR
cyclic voltammetry
transmission
scanning electron microscopy

Software Mentioned

AVANTAGE

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