Exploration of the active center structure of nitrogen-doped graphene-based catalysts for oxygen reduction reaction

• DOI: 10.1039/c2ee21802j
• Publication Date: 2012-04-26T09:49:56Z
• Authors: Linfei Lai; Jeffrey R. Potts; Da Zhan; Liang Wang; Chee Kok Poh; Chunhua Tang; Hao Gong; Zexiang Shen; Jianyi Lin; Rodney S. Ruoff
• Keywords: Polypyrrole; Active center

We present two different ways to fabricate nitrogen-doped graphene (N-graphene) and demonstrate its use as a metal-free catalyst study the catalytic active center for oxygen reduction reaction (ORR). N-graphene was produced by annealing of oxide (G-O) under ammonia or N-containing polymer/reduced (RG-O) composite (polyaniline/RG-O polypyrrole/RG-O). The effects N precursors temperature on performance were investigated. bonding state atom found have significant effect selectivity activity ORR. Annealing G-O with preferentially formed graphitic pyridinic centers, while polyaniline/RG-O polypyrrole/RG-O tended generate pyrrolic moieties, respectively. Most importantly, electrocatalytic be dependent content which determined limiting current density, improved onset potential However, total in graphene-based non-precious metal does not play an important role ORR process.