Supramolecular assembly promoted synthesis of three-dimensional nitrogen doped graphene frameworks as efficient electrocatalyst for oxygen reduction reaction and methanol electrooxidation

By Lei Zhao, X. Sui, Jia-Zhan Li, Jing-jia Zhang, Li-Mei Zhang, Guo-sheng Huang, Zhen-bo Wang. Applied Catalysis B: Environmental, 2018

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Abstract Nitrogen-doped three-dimensional porous graphene frameworks (NGAs) are fabricated through a unique strategy of adopting the supramolecular assembly-assisted method with GO as building block, and supramolecular aggregate of self-assembled melamine and cyanuric acid as not only a “spacer” to suppress the re-stacking of graphene nanosheets but a self-sacrificial pore-forming agent as well as a nitrogen source leading to simultaneous N-doping. Supramolecular aggregates function as the structure-directing agent playing a vital role in generating the loose porous and free-stacking structure and guiding the formation of unique 3D architecture. The resulting metal-free NGA products possess high specific surface area, porous structure and free-stacking properties, and exhibit enhanced ORR performance in terms of positive half-wave potential which is only ∼43 mV lower than that of a commercial Pt/C, four-electron-transfer process, good durability and outstanding methanol poisoning tolerance. Besides, it also performs as a good support for Pt particles. Consequently, Pt/NGA catalyst displays impressive catalytic activity and stability towards efficient methanol electrooxidation reaction. This simple and robust synthetic strategy of 3D N-doped graphene has put forward a new prospect for rational synthesis of heteroatoms doped carbon materials for sustainable energy conversion applications.

Subfields: Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Electronic, Optical and Magnetic Materials, Renewable Energy, Sustainability and the Environment

View Paper: https://www.semanticscholar.org/paper/137ca16d0e1bdf732c0b95f3fbd90462cc055c80