Related Experiment Video
Updated: Mar 31, 2026
08:57
Scalable Syntheses of Graphene Oxide and Reduced Graphene Oxide using Cascade Design Oxidation and Highly Basic Reduction Reactions
Published on: July 3, 2025
2.4K
Enhanced ORR Activity of Modified Recycled Graphite-Based Anode Materials.
Sukanya Sukanya1, Kimia Hoseinzade1, Frederik Bettels2
1Institute of Organic Chemistry, Clausthal University of Technology, Leibnizstrasse 6, Clausthal-Zellerfeld 38678, Germany.
ACS Omega
|March 30, 2026
Summary
Recycled graphite from lithium-ion batteries is transformed into metal-free oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) catalysts. This upcycling strategy enhances fuel cell efficiency by improving ORR kinetics through acid activation and molecular functionalization.
Area of Science:
- Electrochemistry
- Materials Science
- Sustainable Chemistry
Background:
- Oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) kinetics are critical for fuel cells and metal-air batteries.
- Developing efficient, metal-free ORR catalysts is a key challenge in energy conversion.
Purpose of the Study:
- To upcycle spent graphite anodes from lithium-ion batteries into metal-free ORR catalysts.
- To investigate the effects of oxidative activation and molecular functionalization on ORR performance.
Main Methods:
- Spent graphite anodes were activated using H2SO4/HNO3 mixtures.
- Surface functionalization was performed using BPDI-OH-Cl, NDI-alendronic acid (NDI-ALEN), and NDI-aspartic acid (NDI-ASP).
- X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and scanning electron microscopy with energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (SEM/EDX) were used for analysis.
Main Results:
- Acid activation significantly enhanced apparent ORR activity, with an 8 M acid-treated material achieving a high half-wave potential (0.782 V).
- Molecular functionalization, particularly with NDI-ASP, improved kinetic current density and charge-transfer characteristics.
- XPS and SEM/EDX confirmed the successful incorporation of nitrogen- and phosphorus-containing species.
Conclusions:
- Recycled graphite can be engineered into a tunable, metal-free ORR catalyst platform.
- Defect generation from acid activation primarily influences apparent ORR activity.
- Molecular functionalization fine-tunes kinetic behavior and electron-transfer properties, supporting circular economy principles for energy conversion.
