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Facile synthesis of tungsten carbide-carbon composites for oxygen reduction reaction

  • Catalysis, Reaction Engineering
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Abstract

Tungsten carbide-carbon composite (XWC-C, where X=10 or 30 represents the tungsten content) supports were prepared by pyrolyzing tungsten-adsorbed poly(4-vinylpyridine)-functionalized carbon. The supports were used to prepare Pt catalysts (Pt/XWC-C) for oxygen reduction reactions (ORR) in alkaline solution. Prepared XWC-C revealed highly dispersed tungsten carbide species composed of WC and W2C phases. The tungsten carbide species proved to have a positive effect on the dispersion of Pt particles. Compared to the Pt catalyst supported on carbon (Pt/ C), Pt/XWC-C showed higher ORR performance. In addition, the catalytic performance of Pt/XWC-C was enhanced with increasing tungsten carbide content. The highest ORR activity was achieved for the Pt/30WC-C catalyst, which had a 2.9-fold enhanced performance (at 0.8V vs. RHE) compared to that of Pt/C. It is believed that the unique interaction between Pt and the tungsten carbide species was responsible for the enhanced ORR performance of the Pt/XWC-C catalysts.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Semiconductor and Chemical Engineering, Nanomaterials Processing Research Center, Chonbuk National University, Jeonju, 54896, Korea

    Yeonsun Sohn, Jae Young Jung & Pil Kim

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  1. Yeonsun Sohn
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  2. Jae Young Jung
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  3. Pil Kim
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Correspondence to Pil Kim.

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Sohn, Y., Jung, J.Y. & Kim, P. Facile synthesis of tungsten carbide-carbon composites for oxygen reduction reaction. Korean J. Chem. Eng. 34, 2162–2168 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11814-017-0124-z

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11814-017-0124-z

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