Nitrogen and sulfur co-doped fibrous-like carbon electrocatalyst derived from conductive polymers for highly active oxygen reduction catalysis

Author(s)

Borges Honorato, Ana Maria ^{[1, 2]} ; Khalid, Mohd ^[3] ; Dai, Quanbin ^[1] ; Pessan, Luiz Antonio ^[2]

Affiliation

^[1] Case Western Reserve Univ, Ctr Adv Sci & Engn Carbon Case4carbon, Dept Macromol Sci & Engn, 10900 Euclid Ave, Cleveland, OH 44106 - USA

^[2] Univ Fed Sao Carlos, Dept Mat Engn, Washington Luiz Rd, Km 235, BR-13565905 Sao Carlos, SP - Brazil

^[3] Univ Sao Paulo, Inst Chem Sao Carlos, POB 780, Sao Carlos 13560970, SP - Brazil

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: Synthetic Metals; v. 264, JUN 2020.
• Web of Science Citations: 0

Abstract

Carbon-based electrocatalysts hold great promise towards the development of clean renewable energy conversion and storage technologies. Herein, we present the preparation of a nitrogen (N) and sulfur (S) co-doped fibrous-like carbon electrocatalyst through sequential polymerization of conjugated poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) and polyaniline polymers onto silica nanoparticles, followed by carbonization. The morphological characterization of the material reveals a highly entangled fibrous-like carbon structure after etching away of the silica nanoparticles. The as-obtained N and S co-doped entangled fibrous-like carbon electrocatalyst demonstrates excellent oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) activity with an onset potential of 0.94 V vs. RHE, comparable to the onset potential 1.0V vs. RHE of benchmark Pt/C (20 wt %) and outperforming single heteroatom (N/S) doped carbon in alkaline medium. The catalyst also shows excellent stability and resistance towards methanol poisoning effects. This study demonstrates the facile synthesis of N and S co-doped fibrous-like carbon-based catalysts for ORR derived from conjugated polymers as a potential alternative to precious metal-based catalysts. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 17/00433-5 - Design and synthesis of multifunctional metal-free electrocatalyst onto carbon fiber yarns for oxygen reduction, and oxygen and hydrogen evolution reactions
• Grantee: Mohmmad Khalid
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Post-Doctoral