Microwave-hydrothermal synthesis of boron/nitrogen co-doped graphene as an efficient metal-free electrocatalyst for oxygen reduction reaction

In this study, a facile microwave-hydrothermal method was successfully applied to synthesize boron and nitrogen co-doped graphene (BNG) electrocatalyst for the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR). It consists of an efficient two-step process involving simultaneous doping with different heteroatoms (B an...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:International journal of hydrogen energy Vol. 41; no. 47; pp. 22026 - 22033
Main Authors: Kim, Il To, Song, Myeong Jun, Kim, Young Bok, Shin, Moo Whan
Format: Journal Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier Ltd 21.12.2016
Subjects:
BN-doped graphene
Catalyst
Electrocatalyst
Microwave-hydrothermal
Oxygen reduction reaction
BN-doped graphene
Electrocatalyst
Microwave-hydrothermal
Oxygen reduction reaction
Catalyst
ISSN:0360-3199, 1879-3487
Online Access:Get full text
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Summary:In this study, a facile microwave-hydrothermal method was successfully applied to synthesize boron and nitrogen co-doped graphene (BNG) electrocatalyst for the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR). It consists of an efficient two-step process involving simultaneous doping with different heteroatoms (B and N) and reduction of doped graphene oxide. It was found that the B and N contents of highly reduced BN co-doped graphene (HRBNG) are 3.55 and 4.43 at%, respectively. The HRBNG exhibited clearly enhanced electrocatalytic activity towards the ORR in alkaline electrolytes. The electron transfer number (n) was obtained 3.53 ∼ 3.84 in potential range of 0.465 V–0.225 V, indicating that the HRBNG favors the four-electron pathway for the reduction of oxygen. These results demonstrate that the synthesized HRBNG has potential to replace expensive precious metal catalysts and also provide a new strategy to synthesize heteroatom-doped graphene-based catalyst. •BN co-doped graphene was synthesized by facile microwave-hydrothermal method.•The method extremely shortens synthesis time.•The catalyst exhibits improved ORR activity in alkaline solution.•The ORR process of the catalyst occurs dominantly through a four-electron mechanism.
ISSN:0360-3199
1879-3487
DOI:10.1016/j.ijhydene.2016.08.069