Mechanistic study on nitrogen-doped graphitic carbon-reinforced chromium nitride as a durable electrocatalyst for oxygen reduction

Sarkar, B and Parui, A and Singh, AK and Nanda, KK (2021) Mechanistic study on nitrogen-doped graphitic carbon-reinforced chromium nitride as a durable electrocatalyst for oxygen reduction. In: Journal of Materials Chemistry A, 9 (30). pp. 16575-16584.

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Abstract

Designing efficient catalysts for major energy conversion devices like fuel cells and metal-air batteries is of prime importance as the commercially used Pt/C catalyst impedes scalable use due to high cost, low stability, and methanol-intolerant behavior. Herein, we report a one-step method to synthesize phase-pure CrN nanoparticles (CrN NPs, �4 nm) anchored on N-doped graphitic carbon (CrN@NG) as an excellent Pt-free electrocatalyst to boost the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) in alkaline and acidic media. The as-synthesized CrN@NG-900 competes with 20 wt Pt/C with anE1/2that is only 30 and 60 mV negative of Pt/C in alkaline and acidic media, respectively. Furthermore, the low-cost CrN@NG shows better long-term stability (no NP leaching or agglomeration) and methanol immunity that is desirable to replace Pt for applications in a real system. Density functional theory (DFT) calculations reveal a synergistic interaction between CrN and the NG support, which optimizes the free energy of the reaction intermediates and favors the ORR. The robust stability of the catalyst due to the NG support, better electron transfer, and greater electrochemically active sites augment the ORR activity in alkaline and acidic media. © The Royal Society of Chemistry 2021.

Item Type:	Journal Article
Publication:	Journal of Materials Chemistry A
Publisher:	Royal Society of Chemistry
Additional Information:	The copyright for this article belongs to Royal Society of Chemistry
Keywords:	Catalyst activity; Conversion efficiency; Costs; Density functional theory; Doping (additives); Electrocatalysts; Electrolytic reduction; Electron transport properties; Free energy; Fuel cells; Metal-air batteries; Methanol; Nitrogen; Oxygen; Oxygen reduction reaction; Platinum metals; Reaction intermediates; Reinforcement; Synthesis (chemical), Efficient catalysts; Electron transfer; Energy conversion devices; Graphitic carbons; Long term stability; Mechanistic studies; Oxygen Reduction; Synergistic interaction, Chromium compounds
Department/Centre:	Division of Chemical Sciences > Materials Research Centre
Date Deposited:	25 Sep 2021 12:39
Last Modified:	25 Sep 2021 12:39
URI:	http://eprints.iisc.ac.in/id/eprint/69798

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