Soft‐Templating Synthesis of N‐Doped Mesoporous Carbon Nanospheres for Enhanced Oxygen Reduction Reaction

The development of ordered mesoporous carbon materials with controllable structures and improved physicochemical properties by doping heteroatoms such as nitrogen into the carbon framework has attracted a lot of attention, especially in relation to energy storage and conversion. Herein, a series of nitrogen‐doped mesoporous carbon spheres (NMCs) was synthesized via a facile dual soft‐templating procedure by tuning the nitrogen content and carbonization temperature. Various physical and (electro)chemical properties of the NMCs have been comprehensively investigated to pave the way for a feasible design of nitrogen‐containing porous carbon materials. The optimized sample showed a favorable electrocatalytic activity as evidenced by a high kinetic current and positive onset potential for oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) due to its large surface area, high pore volume, good conductivity, and high nitrogen content, which make it a highly efficient ORR metal‐free catalyst in alkaline solutions.     

多孔碳纳米纤维负载Pd纳米颗粒用于增强电催化氧还原性能

采用溶剂热法合成了以锆为金属核心、2-氨基为配体的锆基金属有机骨架(UiO-66)纳米材料,通过静电纺丝技术制备出UiO-66自由分散的聚丙烯腈(PAN/UiO-66)纤维,可控热解得到多孔碳纳米纤维(porous carbon nanofibers,PCNFs),结合湿化学还原法在PCNFs表面沉积Pd纳米颗粒,得到PCNFs@Pd复合材料。通过扫描电子显微镜、透射电子显微镜、X射线衍射技术对其形貌、组成、结构进行表征;采用电化学工作站分别测试了PCNFs@Pd在0.1 mol·L^-1KOH和0.1 mol·L^-1HClO₄电解质中氧还原性能(oxygen reduction reaction,ORR)。结果表明,在PAN纤维中添加UiO-66显著提高了PCNFs@Pd(Pd负载量为0.34%)复合材料的ORR性能。相比40%Pt/C,在碱性电解质中,PCNFs@Pd复合材料展示出更低的Tafel斜率、更优异的循环稳定性和耐甲醇中毒性。在酸性电解质中也表现出类似20%Pt/C的催化活性和循环稳定性。     

High‐Yield Electrosynthesis of Hydrogen Peroxide from Oxygen Reduction by Hierarchically Porous Carbon

H₂O₂ production by electroreduction of O₂ is an attractive alternative to the current anthraquinone process, which is highly desirable for chemical industries and environmental remediation. However, it remains a great challenge to develop cost‐effective electrocatalysts for H₂O₂ synthesis. Here, hierarchically porous carbon (HPC) was proposed for the electrosynthesis of H₂O₂ from O₂ reduction. It exhibited high activity for O₂ reduction and good H₂O₂ selectivity (95.0–70.2 %, most of them >90.0 % at pH 1–4 and >80.0 % at pH 7). High‐yield H₂O₂ generation has been achieved on HPC with H₂O₂ concentrations of 222.6–62.0 mmol L^?1 (2.5 h) and corresponding H₂O₂ production rates of 395.7–110.2 mmol h^?1 g^?1 at pH 1–7 and ?0.5 V. Moreover, HPC was energy‐efficient for H₂O₂ production with current efficiency of 81.8–70.8 %. The exceptional performance of HPC for electrosynthesis of H₂O₂ could be attributed to its high content of sp³‐C and defects, large surface area and fast mass transfer.     

Optimal Configuration of N‐Doped Carbon Defects in 2D Turbostratic Carbon Nanomesh for Advanced Oxygen Reduction Electrocatalysis

The charge redistribution strategy driven by heteroatom doping or defect engineering has been developed as an efficient method to endow inert carbon with significant oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) activity. The synergetic effect between the two approaches is thus expected to be more effective for manipulating the charge distribution of carbon materials for exceptional ORR performance. Herein we report a novel molecular design strategy to achieve a 2D porous turbostratic carbon nanomesh with abundant N‐doped carbon defects (NDC). The molecular level integration of aromatic rings as the carbon source and urea units as the N source and sacrificial template into the novel precursor of polyurea (PU) promises the formation of abundant carbon edge defects and N doping sites. A special active site—a carbon edge defect doped with a graphitic valley N atom—was revealed to be responsible for the exceptional ORR performance of NDC material.     

氮掺杂泡沫碳电催化剂的制备及氧还原性能

利用水解乙烯基咪唑翁硝酸盐([Hvim]NO3)作为发泡剂和一次氮源,在碳化过程中实现材料自发泡.创造性地引入二次氮源三聚氰胺(C3H6N6),通过调控一次、二次氮源比例和碳化温度,制备得到氮掺杂泡沫碳材料(HxMy-T,其中x∶y为一次和二次氮源的质量比,T对应不同的碳化温度).该方法提升了催化剂的氮掺杂含量,构建了...     

氮掺杂泡沫碳电催化剂的制备及氧还原性能

利用水解乙烯基咪唑鎓硝酸盐（[Hvim]NO₃）作为发泡剂和一次氮源,在碳化过程中实现材料自发泡。创造性地引入二次氮源三聚氰胺（C₃H₆N₆）,通过调控一次、二次氮源比例和碳化温度,制备得到氮掺杂泡沫碳材料（HxMy-T,其中x：y为一次和二次氮源的质量比,T对应不同的碳化温度）。该方法提升了催化剂的氮掺杂含量,构建了更多有利于氧还原反应（ORR）的活性氮位点。电镜结果显示,催化剂H1M1-1000呈现出典型的泡沫碳孔洞结构和丰富的层状褶皱结构;X射线光电子能谱测试结果表明,该样品具有较高的活性氮含量（原子分数6.77%）,吡啶氮和石墨氮的原子分数分别高达22.23%和55.59%;电化学测试结果表明,该样品在碱性环境中的半波电位为0.834 V（vs RHE）,与商业Pt/C相当,且具有优于商业Pt/C的抗甲醇性能和稳定性。     

N,P‐Codoped Carbon Networks as Efficient Metal‐free Bifunctional Catalysts for Oxygen Reduction and Hydrogen Evolution Reactions

The high cost and scarcity of noble metal catalysts, such as Pt, have hindered the hydrogen production from electrochemical water splitting, the oxygen reduction in fuel cells and batteries. Herein, we developed a simple template‐free approach to three‐dimensional porous carbon networks codoped with nitrogen and phosphorus by pyrolysis of a supermolecular aggregate of self‐assembled melamine, phytic acid, and graphene oxide (MPSA/GO). The pyrolyzed MPSA/GO acted as the first metal‐free bifunctional catalyst with high activities for both oxygen reduction and hydrogen evolution. Zn–air batteries with the pyrolyzed MPSA/GO air electrode showed a high peak power density (310 W g^?1) and an excellent durability. Thus, the pyrolyzed MPSA/GO is a promising bifunctional catalyst for renewable energy technologies, particularly regenerative fuel cells.     

Enhanced Oxygen Reduction Reactions in Fuel Cells on H‐Decorated and B‐Substituted Graphene

In the light of recent experimental research on the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) with carbon materials doped with foreign atoms, we study the performance of graphene with different defects on this catalytic reaction. In addition to the reported N‐graphene, it is found that H‐decorated and B‐substituted graphene can also spontaneously promote this chemical reaction. The local high spin density plays the key role, facilitating the adsorption of oxygen and OOH, which is the start of ORR. The source of the high spin density for all of the doped graphene is attributed to unpaired single π electrons. Meanwhile, the newly formed C? H covalent bond introduces a higher barrier to the p electron flow, leading to more localized and higher spin density for H‐decorated graphene. At the same time, larger structural distortion should be avoided, which could impair the induced spin density, such as for P‐substituted graphene.     

多尺度炭材料担载铂作为稳定的电催化剂用于氧还原反应

炭载体的稳定性对于燃料电池电催化剂是至关重要的. 本文中采用酚醛树脂作为前驱体,二氧化硅为模板剂,制备了多介孔且石墨化程度高的炭载体（HGMC）. 相比于商品Vulcan XC-72,HGMC具有中等的比表面积和高的石墨化程度,因此在电位循环扫描过程中具有较高的化学稳定性,然而HGMC碳层堆叠的结构不利于传质. 为克服这一劣势,多壁碳纳米管（MWCNTs）作为隔离物加入至HGMC中以构建具有三维多尺度结构的载体（MSGC）. 与HGMC为载体担载Pt以及商品催化剂Pt/C-JM相比,由于炭载体的具有高稳定性以及三维多尺度结构,MSGC担载Pt后不仅使电催化剂的电化学稳定性提高,且氧还原反应过程中传质得到显著改善.     

Cu Nanoparticles Embedded in N‐Doped Carbon Materials for Oxygen Reduction Reaction

Development of eco‐friendly, cost‐effective, and high‐performance electrocatalysts to replace precious metal platinum for oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) has received increasing attention. Herein, we adopt a facile one‐pot strategy to embed Cu nanoparticles onto N‐doped carbon‐graphene (Cu@NC‐700). The Cu@NC‐700 exhibits robust and efficient ORR catalysis with positive half‐wave potential (~0.86 V vs. RHE) and low Tafel slope (33.9 mV?dec^–1) in 0.1 M KOH solution. Meanwhile, it manifests remarkable electrochemical stability, and strong tolerance to methanol crossover and carbon monoxide poisoning. The synergistic effect between Cu‐N‐C sites, Cu nanoparticles, and N‐doped carbon support speeds up ORR electrocatalysis.     

自掺杂污泥碳的制备及其电催化氧还原的性能

开发低成本、高性能的阴极催化剂是燃料电池商业化应用的关键. 本文以剩余污泥为前驱体,在碳化前通过连续添加苯酚来对污泥进行驯化,热解后得到自模板、自活化及N、P、Fe自掺杂的多孔类石墨烯碳材料. 结果表明,污泥经苯酚驯化后,微生物得到富集,含碳量显著提高,N、P、Fe等元素大大增加. 热解温度升高能提高材料的石墨化程度,但过高的温度会使杂原子掺杂量减少,从而降低氧还原催化活性. 其中,800 ℃下煅烧得到的污泥碳（PSC-800）比表面积为402.4 m²·g^-1,远高于未驯化污泥碳（SC-800）的262.4 m²·g^-1. 光电子能谱（XPS）数据表明,PSC-800具有较高的杂原子掺杂量及含铁量,形成了吡啶氮、石墨氮等氧还原活性位点. 在碱性条件下催化4电子的氧还原反应,初始电位为0.93 V,高于SC-800的0.89 V及其他温度煅烧的污泥碳（PSC-600：0.75 V,PSC-700：0.87 V, PSC-900：0.91 V）. 极限电流密度与商业铂碳相当,具有良好的稳定性及抗甲醇毒性.     

Oxygen Reduction on Anthraquinone Diazonium Compound Derivatised Multi‐walled Carbon Nanotube and Graphene Based Electrodes

In this work, graphene and multi‐walled carbon nanotubes were derivatised with anthraquinone (AQ) groups using spontaneous or electrochemical grafting of Fast Red AL salt. Glassy carbon (GC) electrodes were coated with AQ‐modified carbon nanomaterials to study the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR). These nanomaterials were characterised by X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy and multilayer formation of AQ on the electrografted electrodes was observed. All the modified electrodes showed enhanced electrocatalytic activity towards the ORR in alkaline media. High AQ loading on the electrodes was found and the number of electrons transferred per O₂ molecule was between 2 and 4. In addition, the stability testing of AQ‐derivatised carbon nanomaterial‐coated GC electrodes was performed.     

One‐pot Synthesis of Nitrogen and Phosphorus Co‐doped Graphene and Its Use as High‐performance Electrocatalyst for Oxygen Reduction Reaction

In this study, N,P co‐doped graphene (NPG) was prepared by a one‐step pyrolysis using a mixture of graphene oxide and hexachlorocyclotriphosphazene (HCCP), in which HCCP was used as both the N and P source. Furthermore, it is shown that NPG electrodes, as efficient metal‐free electrocatalysts, have a high onset potential, high current density, and long‐term stability for the oxygen reduction reaction.     

From Metal–Organic Frameworks to Single‐Atom Fe Implanted N‐doped Porous Carbons: Efficient Oxygen Reduction in Both Alkaline and Acidic Media

It remains highly desired but a great challenge to achieve atomically dispersed metals in high loadings for efficient catalysis. Now porphyrinic metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) have been synthesized based on a novel mixed‐ligand strategy to afford high‐content (1.76 wt %) single‐atom (SA) iron‐implanted N‐doped porous carbon (Fe_SA‐N‐C) via pyrolysis. Thanks to the single‐atom Fe sites, hierarchical pores, oriented mesochannels and high conductivity, the optimized Fe_SA‐N‐C exhibits excellent oxygen reduction activity and stability, surpassing almost all non‐noble‐metal catalysts and state‐of‐the‐art Pt/C, in both alkaline and more challenging acidic media. More far‐reaching, this MOF‐based mixed‐ligand strategy opens a novel avenue to the precise fabrication of efficient single‐atom catalysts.     

基于热解ZIF-8的氮掺杂碳电化学氧还原合成过氧化氢催化剂

氧气的两电子还原反应(2e-ORR)是绿色、安全的H₂O₂合成路线. 本工作以Zn²⁺和2-甲基咪唑合成的沸石型咪唑酸框架-8 (ZIF-8)为前驱体, 通过高温热解炭化, 利用ZIF-8中的锌在高温下的可挥发性, 制备了非金属氮掺杂石墨化多孔碳材料(p-ZIF), 系统考察了ZIF-8热解炭化温度(900、950和1000 ℃)对催化剂结构和2e-ORR催化性能的影响. p-ZIF不仅保留了ZIF-8规整的菱形十二面体形貌, 而且氮含量高, 拥有高的比表面积和多级孔结构. 在酸性条件下的2e-ORR反应中, 三个p-ZIF催化剂均显示了较低的过电位和较低的Tafel斜率, 而且稳定性良好. 其中在H₂O₂选择性最高的p-ZIF-950催化剂上, 过电位为86 mV, H₂O₂选择性最高可达89.2%. 在6 h恒电位反应中, p-ZIF-950催化剂能够以87 mmol•g_cat^-1•h^-1的恒定速率产生H₂O₂. 根据多种表征结果, 推测p-ZIF催化剂的孔径尺寸和石墨N含量是影响其2e-ORR催化性能的主要因素.     

通过铁掺杂和造孔提高氮掺杂石墨烯/碳纳米管复合物电催化氧还原性能的研究（英文）

氧还原反应催化剂的性能直接影响着能源转换和存储器件如燃料电池和金属-空气电池的性能. 开发低成本、高性能的非铂族金属氧还原催化剂对于这类器件的实际应用和商业化十分重要,因此备受关注. 氮掺杂的石墨烯/碳纳米管复合物同时具备碳纳米管的良好导电性能和有利于传质的三维网络结构优点,以及氮掺杂石墨烯的高活性优点,因此有望发展为这类可替代铂族催化剂的氧还原电催化剂之一,但目前其催化性能还需进一步提高. 本文研究发现通过在氮掺杂石墨烯/碳纳米管复合物的过程中引入铁元素可以有效提高催化剂的氧还原活性,并且发现通过在热处理和氮掺杂过程中加入二氧化硅纳米颗粒及随后除去二氧化硅,可以在氮掺杂的石墨烯/碳纳米管复合物材料中有效地形成多孔结构. 这种多孔结构的形成不仅可以在复合物中引入更多的高活性催化位点,而且有利于暴露更多的催化活性位并促进氧还原反应中的传质过程. 结合碳纳米管、石墨烯和多孔结构的三者优点,所制备的多孔氮掺杂碳材料表现出优异的电催化氧还原性能. 进一步的实验表明,这类材料还表现出优异的抗甲醇中毒能力和良好的稳定性,因此在性能改进后有望用于燃料电池等能量转换与存储器件.     

A Template‐Free Method for Preparation of Cobalt Nanoparticles Embedded in N‐Doped Carbon Nanofibers with a Hierarchical Pore Structure for Oxygen Reduction

Designing and preparing porous materials without using any templates is a challenge. Herein, single‐nozzle electrospinning technology coupled with post pyrolysis is applied to prepare cobalt nanoparticles embedded in N‐doped carbon nanofibers with a hierarchical pore structure (HP‐Co‐NCNFs). The resultant HP‐Co‐NCNFs have lengths up to several millimeters with an average diameter of 200 nm and possess abundant micro/meso/macropores on both the surface and within the fibers. Such a microstructure endows the surface area as high as 115 m² g^?1. When used as an electrocatalyst for the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR), the HP‐Co‐NCNFs exhibit outstanding electrochemical performance in terms of activity, methanol tolerance, and durability. The hierarchically porous structure and high surface area can effectively decrease the mass transport resistance and increase the exposed ORR active sites. The sufficient amount of exposed ORR active sites along with accessible transport channel and enhanced electrical conductivity may be responsible for the good electrocatalytic performance.