Heteroatom-doped carbon nanostructures as non-precious cathode catalysts for PEMFC

Abstract

Recently,enormousresearch effortshavebeen focused on thedevelopmentofnon-preciouscatalyststo replacePtforelectrocatalyticoxygen reduction reaction (ORR),and toreducethecostofproton exchange membranefuelcells(PEMFCs).Inrecentyears,heteroatom (N,B,andP)dopedcarbonnanostructureshave been received enormous importance as a non-precious electrodematerials foroxygen reduction.Doping of foreign atom intocarbon isabletomodify electronicpropertiesofcarbon materials.In thisstudy,nitrogen and boron doped carbon nanostructures were synthesized by using a facile and cost-effective thermal annealing routeand prepared nanostructures were used as a non-precious electrocatalysts forthe ORR in alkalineelectrolyte.Thenitrogendopedcarbonnanocapsules(NCNCs)exhibitedhigheractivitythanthatofa commercialPt/C catalyst,excellentstability and resistance to methanoloxidation.The boron-doped carbon nanostructure(BC)prepared at900 °C showed higherORR activity than BCsprepared lowertemperature (800,700°C).Theheteroatom doped carbon nanomaterialscould bepromising candidatesasa metal-free catalystsforORR inthePEMFCs.