February 15, 2010 | Liangti Qu, Yong Liu, Jong-Beom Baek, and Liming Dai
This study presents nitrogen-doped graphene (N-graphene) as a promising metal-free catalyst for oxygen reduction in alkaline fuel cells. N-graphene was synthesized via chemical vapor deposition (CVD) using ammonia and methane. The resulting N-graphene exhibited superior electrocatalytic activity, long-term stability, and tolerance to crossover and poisoning effects compared to commercial platinum-based electrodes. The enhanced performance is attributed to the electron-accepting ability of nitrogen atoms, which create a net positive charge on adjacent carbon atoms, facilitating efficient oxygen reduction. N-graphene showed a four-electron pathway for oxygen reduction, with a threefold higher catalytic activity than platinum-based electrodes. It also demonstrated excellent stability under various conditions, including the presence of methanol and carbon monoxide. The study highlights the potential of N-graphene as a cost-effective and sustainable alternative to platinum in fuel cells, and suggests its application in other areas beyond fuel cells. The synthesis method is scalable and compatible with various low-cost large-scale production techniques, making it a promising candidate for future electrocatalytic applications.This study presents nitrogen-doped graphene (N-graphene) as a promising metal-free catalyst for oxygen reduction in alkaline fuel cells. N-graphene was synthesized via chemical vapor deposition (CVD) using ammonia and methane. The resulting N-graphene exhibited superior electrocatalytic activity, long-term stability, and tolerance to crossover and poisoning effects compared to commercial platinum-based electrodes. The enhanced performance is attributed to the electron-accepting ability of nitrogen atoms, which create a net positive charge on adjacent carbon atoms, facilitating efficient oxygen reduction. N-graphene showed a four-electron pathway for oxygen reduction, with a threefold higher catalytic activity than platinum-based electrodes. It also demonstrated excellent stability under various conditions, including the presence of methanol and carbon monoxide. The study highlights the potential of N-graphene as a cost-effective and sustainable alternative to platinum in fuel cells, and suggests its application in other areas beyond fuel cells. The synthesis method is scalable and compatible with various low-cost large-scale production techniques, making it a promising candidate for future electrocatalytic applications.