Nanosheets Co3O4 Interleaved with Graphene for Highly Efficient Oxygen Reduction

• DOI: 10.1021/acsami.5b06063
• Publication Date: 2015-09-08T11:40:18Z
• Authors: Taiwo Odedairo; Xuecheng Yan; Jun Ma; Yalong Jiao; Xiangdong Yao; Aijun Du; Zhonghua Zhu
• Keywords: Carbon fibers

Efficient yet inexpensive electrocatalysts for oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) are an essential component of renewable energy devices, such as fuel cells and metal-air batteries. We herein interleaved novel Co3O4 nanosheets with graphene to develop a first ever sheet-on-sheet heterostructured electrocatalyst ORR, whose electrocatalytic activity outperformed the state-of-the-art commercial Pt/C exceptional durability in alkaline solution. The composite demonstrates highest all nonprecious metal electrocatalysts, those derived from nanoparticle/nitrogen-doped hybrids carbon nanotube/nanoparticle composites. Density functional theory (DFT) calculations indicated that outstanding performance originated significant charge transfer promoting electron transport through whole structure. Theoretical revealed enhanced stability can be ascribed strong interaction generated between both types sheets.