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A bio-inspired Co3O4-polypyrrole-graphene complex as an efficient oxygen reduction catalyst in one-step ball milling

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Abstract

The development of non-precious metal-based electrocatalysts has attracted much research attention because of their high oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) activities, low cost, and good durability. By one-step in-situ ball milling of graphite, pyrrole, and cobalt salt without resorting to high-temperature annealing, we developed a general and facile strategy to synthesize bio-inspired cobalt oxide and polypyrrole coupled with a graphene nanosheet (Co3O4-PPy/GN) complex. Herein, the exfoliation of graphite and polymerization of pyrrole occurred simultaneously during the ball milling process. Meanwhile, the Co3O4 and Co-N x ORR active sites were generated from the oxidized cobalt ion, cobalt-PPy, and the newly exfoliated graphene nanosheets via strong π–π stacking interactions. The resultant Co3O4-PPy/GN catalysts showed efficient electrocatalytic performances for ORRs in an alkaline medium with a positive onset and reduction potentials of−0.102 and−0.196 V (vs. Ag/AgCl), as well as a high diffusion-limited current density (4.471 mA·cm−2), which was comparable to that of a Pt/C catalyst (4.941 mA·cm−2). Compared to Pt/C, Co3O4-PPy/GN catalysts displayed better long-term stability, methanol tolerance, and anti-CO-poisoning effects, which are of great significance for the design and development of advanced non-precious metal electrocatalysts.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Key Laboratory of Bio-inspired Smart Interfacial Science and Technology of Ministry of Education, School of Chemistry and Environment, Beihang University, Beijing, 116023, China

    Guangyuan Ren, Yunan Li, Zhaoyan Guo, Guozheng Xiao, Ying Zhu & Lei Jiang

  2. School of Chemistry, Biology and Materials Science, East China Institute of Technology, Nanchang, 330013, China

    Guangyuan Ren

  3. Department of Macromolecular Science and Engineering, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio, 44106, USA

    Liming Dai

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  1. Guangyuan Ren
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  2. Yunan Li
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  3. Zhaoyan Guo
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  4. Guozheng Xiao
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  5. Ying Zhu
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  6. Liming Dai
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  7. Lei Jiang
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Correspondence to Ying Zhu or Liming Dai.

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Ren, G., Li, Y., Guo, Z. et al. A bio-inspired Co3O4-polypyrrole-graphene complex as an efficient oxygen reduction catalyst in one-step ball milling. Nano Res. 8, 3461–3471 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12274-015-0844-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12274-015-0844-5

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