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Nitrogen-doped hollow mesoporous carbon spheres for efficient oxygen reduction
Hao Wang1,2, Caixia Zheng1,2, Bing Huang2
1College of Chemistry, Fuzhou University, Fuzhou 350108, People's Republic of China.
Nanotechnology
|August 25, 2023
Summary
Nitrogen-doped hollow carbon spheres (N-CHS) show promise for oxygen reduction reactions (ORR). Iron-doped N-CHS exhibit excellent catalytic activity and power density in zinc-air batteries.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Electrochemistry
- Catalysis
Background:
- Nitrogen-doped carbon materials are extensively studied for oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) catalysis.
- Hollow spherical structures offer unique advantages for catalytic applications.
Purpose of the Study:
- To synthesize and characterize nitrogen-doped hollow carbon spheres (N-CHS).
- To investigate the ORR activity of N-CHS and Fe-doped N-CHS in alkaline media.
- To evaluate the performance of Fe-N-doped N-CHS as a cathode catalyst in zinc-air batteries.
Main Methods:
- Synthesis of nitrogen-doped hollow carbon spheres.
- Fe doping using heme chloride followed by carbonization.
- Electrochemical characterization of ORR activity (half-wave potential).
- Performance testing in zinc-air batteries.
Main Results:
- N-CHS exhibited a half-wave potential of 0.87 V vs. RHE for ORR.
- Fe-N-doped N-CHS achieved a half-wave potential of 0.9 V vs. RHE.
- The catalyst demonstrated a power density of 162.6 mW cm-2 in zinc-air batteries.
Conclusions:
- N-CHS possess favorable structural properties for enhanced catalytic activity.
- Fe-N-doped N-CHS show superior ORR performance and are effective cathode catalysts for zinc-air batteries.
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