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Fe/Co/C–N nanocatalysts for oxygen reduction reaction synthesized by directly pyrolyzing Fe/Co-doped polyaniline

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Abstract

Development of precious metal-free catalysts for oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) is of great significance for the practical application of fuel cells. In this article, we report the finding that the C–N composites containing Fe and/or Co (C–PANI, Fe/C–PANI, Co/C–PANI, and FeCo/C–PANI), produced by directly pyrolyzing the Fe- and/or Co-doped polyaniline (PANI) precursors, show efficient electroactivity for ORR both in acidic and in alkaline media. Among the prepared catalysts, Fe/C–PANI and Co/C–PANI present the most positive ORR onset potential that is 0.61 V (vs. SCE) in 0.5 mol L−1 H2SO4 solution or −0.1 V (vs. SCE) in 1 mol L−1 NaOH solution. In addition, the Fe/C–PANI catalyst shows the largest limiting-diffusion current density for ORR both in acidic and in alkaline media. A four-electron reaction of ORR on the Fe/C–PANI and Co/C–PANI catalysts is more dominant than a two-electron reaction. Fe/C–PANI catalyst also presents good electrocatalytic activity stability for ORR both in acidic and in alkaline media.

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Acknowledgements

This work was supported by The National Natural Science Foundation of China (Nos. 21376070 and 20876038) and a Project supported by Scientific Research Fund of Hunan Provincial Education Department (11K023).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Hunan University of Science and Technology, Xiangtan, 411201, China

    Qingfeng Yi, Yuhui Zhang & Xiaoping Liu

  2. Chemistry and Chemical Engineering Department, Huaihua University, Huaihua, 418000, China

    Bailin Xiang

  3. College of Resource and Environment, Hunan Agricultural University, Changsha, 410128, China

    Yahui Yang

Authors
  1. Qingfeng Yi
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  2. Yuhui Zhang
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  3. Xiaoping Liu
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  4. Bailin Xiang
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  5. Yahui Yang
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Correspondence to Qingfeng Yi or Yahui Yang.

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Yi, Q., Zhang, Y., Liu, X. et al. Fe/Co/C–N nanocatalysts for oxygen reduction reaction synthesized by directly pyrolyzing Fe/Co-doped polyaniline. J Mater Sci 49, 729–736 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10853-013-7754-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10853-013-7754-2

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