Doped Graphene Foam as a Model Oxygen Reduction Reaction Electrocatalyst System

2016 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 15K17898
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Young Scientists (B)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Research Field: Energy-related chemistry
• Research Institution: Kyushu University
• Principal Investigator: LYTH Stephen 九州大学, カーボンニュートラル・エネルギー国際研究所, 准教授 (50618824)
• Research Collaborator: SASAKI Kazunari Kyushu University, 12CNER Distinguished, Professor
• Project Period (FY): 2015-04-01 – 2017-03-31
• Keywords: Electrochemistry / Catalysis / Nitrogen-doped carbon / Oxygen reduction / non-precious / Pt-free / Fe-N-C / Fuel Cells

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Template-free nitrogen-doped carbon foams with large surface area are used as a model system to study the oxygen reduction reaction in Pt-free electrocatalysts. Metal-free nitrogen doped carbon foams are synthesized and compared with iron-impregnated nitrogen-doped carbon foams. In acid medium the resulting Fe-N-C catalysts out-perform commercially available Pt-free catalysts due to excellent mass diffusion through the relatively large pores, but still do not compete with Pt/C. In alkaline medium the Fe-N-C catalysts out-perform both commercial Pt-free catalyst and Pt/C. Detailed materials characterization is performed to lend insight into the possible nature of the active sites. Detailed durability studies reveal the excellent stability of Pt-free catalysts in alkaline medium and post-durability transmission electron microscopy is used to investigate the degradation mechanisms.

Free Research Field

Electrochemistry