Carbon Nanotubes/Heteroatom‐Doped Carbon Core–Sheath Nanostructures as Highly Active,Metal‐Free Oxygen Reduction Electrocatalysts for Alkaline Fuel Cells |
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Authors: | Young Jin Sa Dr. Chiyoung Park Dr. Hu Young Jeong Dr. Seok‐Hee Park Prof. Zonghoon Lee Prof. Kyoung Taek Kim Dr. Gu‐Gon Park Prof. Sang Hoon Joo |
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Affiliation: | 1. Department of Chemistry and School of Nano‐Bioscience and Chemical Engineering, Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology (UNIST), Ulsan 689‐798 (Republic of Korea) http://shjoo.unist.ac.kr/;2. KIER‐UNIST Advanced Center for Energy, UNIST, Ulsan 689‐798 (Republic of Korea);3. School of Mechanical and Advanced Materials Engineering and Low‐Dimensional Carbon Materials Center, UNIST, Ulsan 689‐798 (Republic of Korea);4. UNIST Central Research Facility, UNIST, Ulsan 689‐798 (Republic of Korea);5. Fuel Cell Research Center, Korea Institute of Energy Research, Daejeon 305‐343 (Republic of Korea) |
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Abstract: | A facile, scalable route to new nanocomposites that are based on carbon nanotubes/heteroatom‐doped carbon (CNT/HDC) core–sheath nanostructures is reported. These nanostructures were prepared by the adsorption of heteroatom‐containing ionic liquids on the walls of CNTs, followed by carbonization. The design of the CNT/HDC composite allows for combining the electrical conductivity of the CNTs with the catalytic activity of the heteroatom‐containing HDC sheath layers. The CNT/HDC nanostructures are highly active electrocatalysts for the oxygen reduction reaction and displayed one of the best performances among heteroatom‐doped nanocarbon catalysts in terms of half‐wave potential and kinetic current density. The four‐electron selectivity and the exchange current density of the CNT/HDC nanostructures are comparable with those of a Pt/C catalyst, and the CNT/HDC composites were superior to Pt/C in terms of long‐term durability and poison tolerance. Furthermore, an alkaline fuel cell that employs a CNT/HDC nanostructure as the cathode catalyst shows very high current and power densities, which sheds light on the practical applicability of these new nanocomposites. |
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Keywords: | carbon nanotubes electrocatalysts fuel cells ionic liquids oxygen reduction |
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