Durability of template-free Fe-N-C foams for electrochemical oxygen reduction in alkaline solution

Albert Mufundirwa; George F. Harrington; Břetislav Smid; Benjamin V. Cunning; Kazunari Sasaki; Stephen M. Lyth

doi:10.1016/j.jpowsour.2017.07.025

Durability of template-free Fe-N-C foams for electrochemical oxygen reduction in alkaline solution

Albert Mufundirwa, George F. Harrington, Břetislav Smid, Benjamin V. Cunning, Kazunari Sasaki, Stephen M. Lyth

Department of Chemistry

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

24 Citations (SciVal)

Abstract

Due to the high cost and limited availability of platinum, the development of non-platinum-group metals (non-PGM) catalysts is of paramount importance. A promising alternative to Pt are Fe-N-C-based materials. Here we present the synthesis, characterization and electrochemistry of a template-free nitrogen-doped carbon foam, impregnated with iron. This low-cost and gram-scale method results in materials with micron-scale pore size and large surface area (1600 m²g^-1). When applied as an oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) electrocatalyst in alkaline solution, the Fe-N-C foams display extremely high initial activity, slightly out-performing commercially available non-PGM catalysts (NCP-2000, Pajarito Powder). The load-cycle durability in alkaline solution is investigated, and the performance steadily degrades over 60,000 potential cycles, whilst the commercial catalyst is remarkably stable. The post-operation catalyst microstructure is elucidated by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), to provide insight into the degradation processes. The resulting images suggest that potential cycling leads to leaching of atomically dispersed Fe-N_2/4 sites in all the catalysts, whereas encapsulated iron nanoparticles are protected.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	244-254
Number of pages	11
Journal	Journal of Power Sources
Volume	375
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpowsour.2017.07.025
Publication status	Published - 31 Jan 2018

Bibliographical note

Funding Information:
The authors gratefully acknowledge the support of the International Institute for Carbon Neutral Energy Research (WPI-I2CNER), sponsored by the World Premier International Research Center Initiative (WPI), MEXT, Japan ; and the International Research Center for Hydrogen Energy, Kyushu University . This work was supported by JSPS KAKENHI Grant-in-Aid for Encouragement of Young Scientists (B), Grant Number 15K17898 ; and a Royal Society of Chemistry Mobility Fellowship . GFH acknowledges the Progress 100 program at Kyushu University. Appendix A

Publisher Copyright:
© 2017 Elsevier B.V.

Funding

The authors gratefully acknowledge the support of the International Institute for Carbon Neutral Energy Research (WPI-I2CNER), sponsored by the World Premier International Research Center Initiative (WPI), MEXT, Japan ; and the International Research Center for Hydrogen Energy, Kyushu University . This work was supported by JSPS KAKENHI Grant-in-Aid for Encouragement of Young Scientists (B), Grant Number 15K17898 ; and a Royal Society of Chemistry Mobility Fellowship . GFH acknowledges the Progress 100 program at Kyushu University. Appendix A

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Renewable Energy, Sustainability and the Environment
Energy Engineering and Power Technology
Physical and Theoretical Chemistry
Electrical and Electronic Engineering

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

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10.1016/j.jpowsour.2017.07.025

Cite this

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title = "Durability of template-free Fe-N-C foams for electrochemical oxygen reduction in alkaline solution",

abstract = "Due to the high cost and limited availability of platinum, the development of non-platinum-group metals (non-PGM) catalysts is of paramount importance. A promising alternative to Pt are Fe-N-C-based materials. Here we present the synthesis, characterization and electrochemistry of a template-free nitrogen-doped carbon foam, impregnated with iron. This low-cost and gram-scale method results in materials with micron-scale pore size and large surface area (1600 m2g-1). When applied as an oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) electrocatalyst in alkaline solution, the Fe-N-C foams display extremely high initial activity, slightly out-performing commercially available non-PGM catalysts (NCP-2000, Pajarito Powder). The load-cycle durability in alkaline solution is investigated, and the performance steadily degrades over 60,000 potential cycles, whilst the commercial catalyst is remarkably stable. The post-operation catalyst microstructure is elucidated by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), to provide insight into the degradation processes. The resulting images suggest that potential cycling leads to leaching of atomically dispersed Fe-N2/4 sites in all the catalysts, whereas encapsulated iron nanoparticles are protected.",

author = "Albert Mufundirwa and Harrington, {George F.} and B{\v r}etislav Smid and Cunning, {Benjamin V.} and Kazunari Sasaki and Lyth, {Stephen M.}",

note = "Funding Information: The authors gratefully acknowledge the support of the International Institute for Carbon Neutral Energy Research (WPI-I2CNER), sponsored by the World Premier International Research Center Initiative (WPI), MEXT, Japan ; and the International Research Center for Hydrogen Energy, Kyushu University . This work was supported by JSPS KAKENHI Grant-in-Aid for Encouragement of Young Scientists (B), Grant Number 15K17898 ; and a Royal Society of Chemistry Mobility Fellowship . GFH acknowledges the Progress 100 program at Kyushu University. Appendix A Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2017 Elsevier B.V.",

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AU - Smid, Břetislav

AU - Cunning, Benjamin V.

AU - Sasaki, Kazunari

AU - Lyth, Stephen M.

N1 - Funding Information: The authors gratefully acknowledge the support of the International Institute for Carbon Neutral Energy Research (WPI-I2CNER), sponsored by the World Premier International Research Center Initiative (WPI), MEXT, Japan ; and the International Research Center for Hydrogen Energy, Kyushu University . This work was supported by JSPS KAKENHI Grant-in-Aid for Encouragement of Young Scientists (B), Grant Number 15K17898 ; and a Royal Society of Chemistry Mobility Fellowship . GFH acknowledges the Progress 100 program at Kyushu University. Appendix A Publisher Copyright: © 2017 Elsevier B.V.

PY - 2018/1/31

Y1 - 2018/1/31

N2 - Due to the high cost and limited availability of platinum, the development of non-platinum-group metals (non-PGM) catalysts is of paramount importance. A promising alternative to Pt are Fe-N-C-based materials. Here we present the synthesis, characterization and electrochemistry of a template-free nitrogen-doped carbon foam, impregnated with iron. This low-cost and gram-scale method results in materials with micron-scale pore size and large surface area (1600 m2g-1). When applied as an oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) electrocatalyst in alkaline solution, the Fe-N-C foams display extremely high initial activity, slightly out-performing commercially available non-PGM catalysts (NCP-2000, Pajarito Powder). The load-cycle durability in alkaline solution is investigated, and the performance steadily degrades over 60,000 potential cycles, whilst the commercial catalyst is remarkably stable. The post-operation catalyst microstructure is elucidated by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), to provide insight into the degradation processes. The resulting images suggest that potential cycling leads to leaching of atomically dispersed Fe-N2/4 sites in all the catalysts, whereas encapsulated iron nanoparticles are protected.

AB - Due to the high cost and limited availability of platinum, the development of non-platinum-group metals (non-PGM) catalysts is of paramount importance. A promising alternative to Pt are Fe-N-C-based materials. Here we present the synthesis, characterization and electrochemistry of a template-free nitrogen-doped carbon foam, impregnated with iron. This low-cost and gram-scale method results in materials with micron-scale pore size and large surface area (1600 m2g-1). When applied as an oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) electrocatalyst in alkaline solution, the Fe-N-C foams display extremely high initial activity, slightly out-performing commercially available non-PGM catalysts (NCP-2000, Pajarito Powder). The load-cycle durability in alkaline solution is investigated, and the performance steadily degrades over 60,000 potential cycles, whilst the commercial catalyst is remarkably stable. The post-operation catalyst microstructure is elucidated by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), to provide insight into the degradation processes. The resulting images suggest that potential cycling leads to leaching of atomically dispersed Fe-N2/4 sites in all the catalysts, whereas encapsulated iron nanoparticles are protected.

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Durability of template-free Fe-N-C foams for electrochemical oxygen reduction in alkaline solution

Abstract

Bibliographical note

Funding

ASJC Scopus subject areas

UN SDGs

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