Cr2O3 nanoparticles boosting Cr–N–C for highly efficient electrocatalysis in acidic oxygen reduction reaction

Jiang, Tao; Luan, Weiling; Turyanska, Lyudmila; Feng, Qi

Abstract

Transition metal–nitrogen–carbon (M–N–C) catalysts have attracted significant attention for catalyzing oxygen reduction reactions (ORR). In this study, a porous Cr O @Cr–N–C catalyst with a small amount of Cr O nanoparticles loaded on the surface of Cr–N –C nanomaterials was prepared using synergistic heat treatment (SHT) method with zeolite imidazole frameworks (ZIFs) as precursors. TEM and spherical aberration-corrected TEM results demonstrated the presence of hollow morphologies, Cr O nanoparticles and atomic-level Cr distribution in Cr O @Cr–N–C. XPS, XRD and XAFS analysis indicated the coexistence of Cr O nanoparticles and Cr–N sites which were believed to act as active centers for ORR. In 0.1 M HClO , this material showed outstanding ORR catalytic activity with a half-wave potential of 0.78 V that was 40 mV higher than the traditional heat treatment derived Cr–N–C. It also revealed relatively low Tafel slope of 52.2 mV dec ; 4-electron pathway; remarkable stability and long-term durability. The improved ORR performance is mainly attributed to the synergy between Cr–N active center and Cr O nanoparticle. The SHT strategy reported here provides a new route to prepare highly efficient non-precious metal M−N–C catalysts with greater ORR activity and stability in acidic environments.

Citation

Jiang, T., Luan, W., Turyanska, L., & Feng, Q. (2021). Cr2O3 nanoparticles boosting Cr–N–C for highly efficient electrocatalysis in acidic oxygen reduction reaction. International Journal of Hydrogen Energy, 46(36), 18913-18921. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijhydene.2021.03.034

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Mar 5, 2021
• Online Publication Date: Mar 31, 2021
• Publication Date: May 25, 2021
• Deposit Date: Apr 12, 2021
• Publicly Available Date: Apr 1, 2022
• Journal: International Journal of Hydrogen Energy
• Print ISSN: 0360-3199
• Publisher: Elsevier
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 46
• Issue: 36
• Pages: 18913-18921
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijhydene.2021.03.034
• Public URL: https://nottingham-repository.worktribe.com/output/5460624
• Publisher URL: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S036031992100879X?via%3Dihub