One-Step Synthesis of Ultrathin Carbon Nanoribbons from Metal–Organic Framework Nanorods for Oxygen Reduction and Zinc–Air Batteries

Abstract

Two-dimensional (2D) carbon nanostructures play a critical role for energy-related applications, while developing facile and efficient strategies to synthesize this kind of nanostructures is extremely rare.Herein, ultrathin carbon nanoribbons (CNRibs), with a thickness of 2-6 nanometers and length of hundred nanometers, have been strategically fabricated via a one-step pyrolysis of one-dimensional (1D) metalorganic framework nanorods (MOF NRods). Manipulating the diameters of MOF NRods will result in the formation of porous carbon nanostructures in 1D or 2D morphologies. Functional CNRibs with N doping or metal active sites immobilization have also been studied. The CNRibs decorated with iron nanoclusters and single atoms have been used as the excellent catalysts for oxygen reduction reaction under both alkaline and acidic conditions, as well as zinc-air batteries. This work gives deep insights into the structural evolution from 1D to 2D morphology, providing an efficient approach to fabricate low-dimensional nanomaterials with controllable morphologies and functionalities for electrochemical applications.

A Review of One‐Dimensional Nanomaterials as Electrode Materials for Oxygen Reduction Reaction Electrocatalysis

“…But these catalysts exhibited efficient ORR performance in Zn-air cells beyond that of Pt/C catalysts. In particular, by calculating the partial density of states (PDOS) of each model (Figure 6g), it was found that the Pd-doped nanoribbons (Pd@GNRs) had the best ORR performance among these prepared samples, showing good stability for the RHE (reversible hydrogen electrode) with an onset potential of 0.94 V, high diffusion-limited current density of 5.87 mA/cm 2 , and a current retention of 95.4 % after 10 h. Similarly, Zou et al [93] synthesized FeÀ N-doped graphene nanoribbons (FeÀ NÀ GNRs) by a similar synthetic method and showed good ORR performance in both alkaline and acidic electrolytes with half-wave potentials of 0.89 and 0.74 V, respectively. It had also been found that the efficiency of FeÀ N x active center formation was highly dependent on the position of the N atom in the NÀ GNR precursor backbone, which allowed the formation of an N 2 center coordinated with the iron ion at the edge of the GNR (Figure 6i).…”

Crystal Face Dominated Fabrication of Prussian Blue Analogue with Oriented Growth and Naturally Nonpreferred Unsaturated Coordination Center

“…[ 20 ] 1D structure such as nanorods and nanowires has the advantages of easy access to active sites and low contact resistance. [ 21 ] However, the morphology of PBAs is mainly cubic and thus the active site exposure is insufficient, resulting in the unsatisfied catalytic performance. How to regulate the relative growth rate of different crystal facets to controlled synthesize 1D PBAs is still a big challenge.…”

High-performance FeOx@CoOx/NC electrocatalysts for the oxygen reduction reaction in alkaline media

“…28 Similarly, Lianli et al synthesized Fe-N/ CNRib and studied the metal active sites immobilization during electrochemical performance. 29 Han et al investigated ORR catalytic activity of the UF Co-N-C electrocatalyst. 30 A promising way to increase the catalytic activity of M-N-C type materials is to introduce adjacent isolated metal centres which optimize the electronic structure of metal active sites and accelerate the ORR kinetics.…”