Electrocatalytic Activity of Ionic‐Liquid‐Derived Porous Carbon Materials for the Oxygen Reduction Reaction

Abstract

Carbon materials, prepared by using different methods with ionic liquids, are compared as electrocatalysts for the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR). Materials were synthesized through the hydrothermal carbonization of glucose and by using the same method in the presence of 1‐butyl‐3‐methylimidazolium methanesulfonate [bmim][MeSO3] as an additive. Another two carbon‐based materials were prepared by using ionic‐liquid‐based methods: ionothermal carbonization of glucose using [bmim][MeSO3] as a recyclable medium for the carbonization reaction and by direct carbonization of the ionic liquid in a one‐step method using [bmim][MeSO3] as the precursor for N‐ and S‐doped porous carbon (Carb‐IL). Characterization results showed the possibility of morphology and porosity control by using [bmim][MeSO3]. All materials were subsequently tested for the ORR in alkaline media. Carb‐IL showed enhanced and stable electrocatalytic ORR activity, even in the presence of methanol, ethanol, and borohydride, opening the possibility for its application in fuel cells.

Nitrogen‐doped carbons derived from poly(ionic liquid)s with various backbones and cations

“…Relative to PAN‐derived carbon, PIL‐derived carbons possessed a slightly smaller I D / I G ratio, which may reveal a higher graphitization extent. The ratios of I D / I G of PIL‐ and PAN‐derived carbons were comparable to the ratio of I D / I G for other nitrogen‐doped carbons in the literature, ranging between 1.05 and 2.5. The increase in graphitization extent may be a result of the anion‐to‐anion correlations and molecular templating mechanism induced by the large TFSI counterion …”

Cross-linked poly(ionic liquid) as precursors for nitrogen-doped porous carbons

“…NPCs have received a great deal of attention due to their unique properties of specic pore structure, high electron density, basicity, wettability, conductivity and oxidation resistance, and have become one of the most lively research topics in current fundamental and applied materials. [1][2][3] NPCs have been applied in catalysis, [4][5][6][7][8][9][10] sorption, [11][12][13][14][15] lithium-ion battery, 16,17 fuel cells 18,19 and supercapacitors. [20][21][22][23][24][25][26][27][28][29][30][31][32] Ionic liquids, possessing unique features such as negligible vapor pressure, versatile solubility, high chemical stability, cation-anion adjustable and easy processing, have be applied in many areas.…”

Ionic liquid‐modified materials as polymer electrolyte membrane and electrocatalyst in fuel cell application: An update

“…Carbon materials formed by various methodologies utilizing ILs were evaluated as electrocatalysts for ORR in Zdolšek et al's work. 190 In the presence of 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium methanesulfonate ([bmim][MeSO 3 ]) as an additive material, the substances were produced by hydrothermal glucose carbonization. Robust electrocatalytic ORR behavior was demonstrated by Carbon-IL even in the presence of methanol, ethanol, and borohydride, thus setting new opportunities for its use in fuel cells.…”