Interconnected core-shell carbon nanotube-graphene nanoribbon scaffolds for anchoring cobalt oxides as bifunctional electrocatalysts for oxygen evolution and reduction

Xunyu Lu, Hubert M. Chan, Chia Liang Sun, Chuan Ming Tseng, Chuan Zhao*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalJournal Article peer-review

57 Scopus citations

Abstract

Bifunctional electrocatalysts for oxygen evolution reactions (OER) and oxygen reduction reactions (ORR) are crucial to the development of regenerative fuel cells or rechargeable metal-air batteries. However, the sluggish kinetics of OER and ORR often require the use of precious metal-based catalysts such as iridium, ruthenium, and platinum to lower the energy barriers of OER and ORR. Developing a highly efficient and stable bifunctional catalyst that is made of non-precious elements for ORR and OER still remains a significant challenge. Here, we show a novel catalyst architecture based on coupling non-precious Co3O4 nanocrystals onto nitrogen-doped, core-shell structured carbon nanotube-graphene nanoribbon (N-csCNT-GNR) scaffolds prepared by microwave-assisted, controlled upzipping of multiwall carbon nanotubes. The unzipped graphene nanoribbon shell enables a high surface area for loading of Co3O4 nanocrystals while the intact inner carbon nanotube core facilitates efficient transport of electrons. The as-prepared Co3O4/N-csCNT-GNR composite catalysts exhibit remarkably high activity towards both OER and ORR as a result of synergistic interactions between Co3O4 and the N-csCNT-GNR substrates.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)13371-13376
Number of pages6
JournalJournal of Materials Chemistry A
Volume3
Issue number25
DOIs
StatePublished - 07 07 2015

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
© The Royal Society of Chemistry.

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