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Synthesis of Metal Nanoparticles Supported on Carbon Nanotube with Doped Co and N Atoms and its Catalytic Applications in Hydrogen Production
Published on: December 6, 2021
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Boosting the hydrogen evolution activity of a Co-N-C electrocatalyst by codoping with Al
Xiao Zhou1, Haoran Yu1, Yang Liu1
1Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Advanced Catalytic Materials and Technology, School of Petrochemical Engineering, Changzhou University Changzhou Jiangsu 213164 China qinyong@cczu.edu.cn.
RSC Advances
|May 9, 2022
Summary
Co, Al, and N tri-doped graphene (CANG) shows excellent performance for the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) in acidic and alkaline conditions. This advanced carbon material design offers new possibilities for efficient electrocatalysis.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Electrochemistry
- Catalysis
Background:
- Developing efficient electrocatalysts for hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) is crucial for clean energy technologies.
- Carbon-based materials offer tunable properties for catalytic applications.
- Co, Al, and N tri-doped graphene (CANG) presents a novel material for investigation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To synthesize and characterize Co, Al, and N tri-doped graphene (CANG).
- To evaluate the electrocatalytic performance of CANG for the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER).
- To elucidate the role of Al heteroatom in enhancing HER activity using DFT calculations.
Main Methods:
- Co, Al, and N tri-doped graphene (CANG) synthesized via annealing N-doped graphene with Co and Al precursors.
- Material characterization using SEM, TEM, XRD, Raman spectroscopy, physical adsorption, and XPS.
- Electrocatalytic performance testing for HER in acidic and alkaline media, supported by DFT calculations.
Main Results:
- CANG exhibits a robust three-dimensional hierarchically porous structure.
- Optimal Co and Al content achieved at 950 °C annealing temperature.
- CANG demonstrates remarkable HER activity in acidic (η10 = 105 mV) and alkaline (η10 = 270 mV) media, outperforming binary-doped counterparts.
- DFT calculations confirm Al heteroatom reduces hydrogen adsorption free energy, enhancing catalytic activity.
Conclusions:
- Co, Al, and N tri-doped graphene is a highly effective electrocatalyst for HER.
- The incorporation of Al significantly enhances the catalytic performance of Co-N-C catalysts.
- This work provides a new strategy for designing advanced, cost-effective carbon materials for electrochemical devices like fuel cells and water-splitters.
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