Co-Loaded N-Doped Biochar as a High-Performance Oxygen Reduction Reaction Electrocatalyst by Combined Pyrolysis of Biomass

作者：Yuyang Ye, Tingting Qian, Hong Jiang · 发表于：Industrial & Engineering Chemistry Research · 年份：2020 · DOI：10.1021/acs.iecr.0c03104 · 被引用次数：30 · 研究领域：Electrocatalysts for Energy Conversion、Fuel Cells and Related Materials、Supercapacitor Materials and Fabrication

In this study, a Co-loaded N-doped biochar electrocatalyst (Co@NC BC ) was prepared from biomass waste (sawdust) using a new combined pyrolysis method. The carbon support of Co@NC BC derived from the first step (low-temperature carbonization) contained abundant active oxygen-containing functional groups and could facilitate nitrogen introduction and Co-based nanoparticle dispersion in the second step (high-temperature pyrolysis) under a NH 3 atmosphere. The Co@NC BC exhibited excellent oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) activity with a half-wave potential E 1/2 of 0.860 V vs a reversible hydrogen electrode, which could be comparable to commercial 20 wt % Pt/C. Furthermore, Co@NC BC exhibited higher stability (the current remained 98.1% after running for 10 000 s) and methanol tolerance (the current remained 96.5% after adding methanol) than Pt/C. The superior ORR activity of Co@NC BC was mainly attributed to the high content of graphitic-N and pyridinic-N/N–Co doping, developed pore structure, and good dispersion of Co-based nanoparticles. This study proposes a preparation approach of low-cost ORR electrocatalysts using non-noble metals and sustainable biomass.