Dual core-shell structured g-C3N4@Fe/Sr@g-C3N4 porous nanosphere as high efficient oxygen reduction reaction electrocatalyst in both acidic and alkaline media for fuel cells

Xiulan Qin, Ying Huang, Ke Wang, Tingting Xu, Yanli Wang, Weihua Dong

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

21 Scopus citations

Abstract

Well-designed novel dual core-shell g-C3N4@Fe/Sr@g-C3N4 nanosphere (FSCN-NS) is originally reported in detail as high efficiency of oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) electrocatalyst in both acidic and alkaline media for fuel cell. The g-C3N4 as the catalyst carrier plays a critical role in facilitating the formation of the hierarchically porous architecture with large numbers of Fe3C, FeNx(x = 1–3), SrCN2 and SrC2 active ORR segments. Furthermore, g-C3N4 as catalyst protector has a stable supporting effect against chemical corrosion, ensuring stability and durability of the as synthesized FSCN-NS for ORR in fuel cell cathode. Additionally, the introduction of Sr can produce metal-nitrogen-carbon bonds to provide active ORR sites, contributes to the formation of the hierarchically porous nanostructure. Thus, FSCN-NS exhibits high ORR activity with the onset potentials of 1.06 V and 1.08 V in alkaline and acidic media, respectively. Notably, half-wave potential, limiting current density, methanol tolerance and durability are all better than that of commercial 20% Pt/C catalyst and most of previously reported materials derived from other metal-C/N nanostructure. Thus, FSCN-NS is as promising cheap candidate to solve the main problems of sluggish reaction kinetics of the ORR, high cost and low durability for fuel cells and metal-air batteries in energy conversion and storage devices.

Original languageEnglish
Article number134745
JournalElectrochimica Acta
Volume322
DOIs
StatePublished - 1 Nov 2019

Keywords

  • Dual core-shell structured g-CN@Fe/Sr@g-CN porous nanosphere
  • Fuel cell and metal-air batteries
  • Oxygen reduction reaction
  • Self-assembly synthesis

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Dual core-shell structured g-C3N4@Fe/Sr@g-C3N4 porous nanosphere as high efficient oxygen reduction reaction electrocatalyst in both acidic and alkaline media for fuel cells'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this