The use of cheap polyaniline and melamine co-modified carbon nanotubes as active and stable catalysts for oxygen reduction reaction in alkaline medium

• DOI: 10.1016/j.electacta.2015.02.053
• Publication Date: 2015-02-07T17:15:31Z
• Authors: Zili Ma; Chaozhong Guo; Yanjun Yin; Yaqiong Zhang; Huijuan Wu; Changguo Chen
• Keywords: Carbon fibers

Abstract In this work, an active and stable electrocatalyst for alkaline electrolyte oxygen reduction reaction was prepared by using single-wall carbon nanotubes with high specific surface area as the carbon source, and polyaniline and melamine as dual nitrogen sources via high-temperature pyrolysis process. Electrochemical experiments suggest that the metallic cobalt in the precursor can facilitate the oxygen reduction reaction to be carried out with an efficient 4-electron transfer pathway. Besides, the prepared catalyst has exhibited superior tolerance against methanol crossover effect and outstanding stability compared with commercial Pt-based catalysts in alkaline medium.