Synthesis of Mesoporous Carbon from Okara and Application as Electrocatalyst Support

Abstract

Carbon materials derived from biomass are economical and simple. Here, a okara‐derived carbon (ODC) was prepared by carbonized cheap and abundant okara at 800 °C in N2 atmosphere. A high degree of graphitization, mesoporous structure and large specific surface area of ODC were proved by Raman spectroscopy, nitrogen adsorption–desorption isotherms, X‐ray diffraction, Fourier transform infrared spectra and scanning electron microscope. The ODC can be used as support of platinum nanoparticles, and the catalytic performance for methanol electro‐oxidation of its was measured by cyclic voltammetry and CO stripping voltammetry. The results showed that Pt/ODC catalyst had higher electrocatalytic activity and the resistance to poisoning ability toward methanol electrooxidation than the Pt/C catalyst prepared under the same conditions.

Advanced Biomass‐Derived Electrocatalysts for the Oxygen Reduction Reaction

“…The elemental analysis revealed that by applying Fe species during pyrolysis, the pyridinic‐N‐oxide converted more to pyridinic‐N and graphitic‐N, and subsequently a higher ORR electroactivity was measured. The authors also previously introduced porous carbon from soybean okara as a catalyst support for Pt nanoparticles for the electrooxidation of methanol . Other reports suggested that Fe species mainly contribute to the decomposition and the graphitization of the soybeans.…”

“…The authors also previously introduced porous carbon from soybean okara as a catalyst support for Pt nanoparticles for the electrooxidation of methanol. [147,148] Other reports suggested that Fe species mainly contribute to the decomposition and the graphitization of the soybeans. Then, the removal of soluble Fe-species by acid can assist the formation of the porous structure, while the graphitic layers encapsulate the remaining particles.…”

Biomass‐Derived Porous Carbon Materials: Synthesis and Catalytic Applications

“…They may thus effectively replace the commercial carbon‐based catalysts in the electrocatalytic applications. Major electrocatalysis applications of these biomass‐derived carbons include methanol electrooxidation91–96 and oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) 5. 97–105…”

The enhanced electrocatalytic activity of okara-derived N-doped mesoporous carbon for oxygen reduction reaction

“…Okara has tremendous potential to generate affordable nitrogen-doped carbon. In our recent work [15,16], nitrogen-doped carbon derived from okara or soybean produced encouraging support effects for Pt particle-catalyzed methanol oxidation due to the presence of catalytic enhancing nitrogen species and its overall mesoporous structure. In our early work, we explored okaraderived carbon as a metal-free ORR electrocatalyst, but its ORR activity in both acid and alkaline medium was relatively low suggesting insufficient active sites on its surface.…”