Mechanochemically Synthetized PAN-Based Co-N-Doped Carbon Materials as Electrocatalyst for Oxygen Evolution Reaction

Abstract

We report a new class of polyacrylonitrile (PAN)-based Co-N-doped carbon materials that can act as suitable catalyst for oxygen evolution reactions (OER). Different Co loadings were mechanochemically added into post-consumed PAN fibers. Subsequently, the samples were treated at 300 °C under air (PAN-A) or nitrogen (PAN-N) atmosphere to promote simultaneously the Co3O4 species and PAN cyclization. The resulting electrocatalysts were fully characterized and analyzed by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), transmission (TEM) and scanning electron (SEM) microscopies, as well as nitrogen porosimetry. The catalytic performance of the Co-N-doped carbon nanomaterials were tested for OER in alkaline environments. Cobalt-doped PAN-A samples showed worse OER electrocatalytic performance than their homologous PAN-N ones. The PAN-N/3% Co catalyst exhibited the lowest OER overpotential (460 mV) among all the Co-N-doped carbon nanocomposites, reaching 10 mA/cm2. This work provides in-depth insights on the electrocatalytic performance of metal-doped carbon nanomaterials for OER.

Optimized cobalt and graphitic carbon hybrid catalysts derived from zeolite imidazolate framework for oxygen evolution reaction

“…According to recent studies, several carbon‐based materials are in the spotlight as OER or ORR catalysts 32‐34 . But, in case of OER, carbon‐based materials do not perform well enough on their own 35‐37 .…”

“…[29][30][31] According to recent studies, several carbon-based materials are in the spotlight as OER or ORR catalysts. [32][33][34] But, in case of OER, carbon-based materials do not perform well enough on their own. [35][36][37] Thus, many researchers are trying to improve OER performance by adding transition metal to carbon-based materials.…”