,Co/N-C nanotubes with increased coupling sites by space-confined pyrolysis for high electrocatalyti

• 作 者: Jun Yang Laiquan Li Hong Yu Hongbo Geng Chengchao Li Xiaochen Dong
• 机 构: Key Laboratory of Flexible Electronics (KLOFE) & Institute of Advanced Materials (IAM), Jiangsu Nati
• 出 处: 绿色能源与环境（英文）
• 发表日期: 2017年1期
• 关键词: Co nanoparticles Nitrogen-doped carbon nanotubes Oxygen reduction reaction

Searching low cost and non-precious metal catalysts for high-performance oxygen reduction reaction is highly desired. Herein, Co nano-particles embedded in nitrogen-doped carbon (Co/N-C) nanotubes with inteal void space are successfully synthesized by space-confined pyrolysis, which effectively improve the cobalt loading content and restrict the encapsulated particles down to nanometer. Different from the typical conformal carbon encapsulation, the resulting Co/N-C nanotubes possess more cobalt nanoparticles embedded in the nanotubes, which can provide more coupling sites and active sites in the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR). Moreover, the one-dimensional and porous structure provides a high surface area and a fast electron transfer pathway for the ORR. And the Co/N-C electrode presents excellent electrocatalytic ORR activity in terms of low onset potential (30 mV lower than that of Pt/C), small Tafel slop (45.5 mV dec-1) and good durability (88.5％retention after 10,000 s).