Cytosine-Co assemblies derived CoNx rich Co-NCNT as efficient tri-functional electrocatalyst

Yu Wang; Honghao Yu; Liangkui Zhu; Zhiqiang Shi; Runwei Wang; Zongtao Zhang; Shilun Qiu

doi:10.1016/j.jcis.2020.11.095

Cytosine-Co assemblies derived CoN_x rich Co-NCNT as efficient tri-functional electrocatalyst

J Colloid Interface Sci. 2021 Mar:585:276-286. doi: 10.1016/j.jcis.2020.11.095. Epub 2020 Nov 30.

Authors

Yu Wang¹, Honghao Yu², Liangkui Zhu², Zhiqiang Shi², Runwei Wang³, Zongtao Zhang², Shilun Qiu²

Affiliations

¹ MOE Laboratory of Bioinorganic and Synthetic Chemistry, The Key Lab of Low-carbon Chemistry & Energy Conservation of Guangdong Province, School of Chemistry, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510275, China. Electronic address: wangy828@mail.sysu.edu.cn.
² State Key Laboratory of Inorganic Synthesis and Preparative Chemistry, College of Chemistry, Jilin University, Changchun 130012, China.
³ State Key Laboratory of Inorganic Synthesis and Preparative Chemistry, College of Chemistry, Jilin University, Changchun 130012, China. Electronic address: rwwang@jlu.edu.cn.

PMID: 33290888
DOI: 10.1016/j.jcis.2020.11.095

Abstract

Carbon-metal composites are promising multifunctional electrocatalysts, but it is still challenging to prepare carbon-metal composites with tunable structure and strong metal-carbon interactions. Here, we present a unique gas-foaming assembly strategy to prepare cytosine-Co chelate derived Co and N codoped carbon nanotube (Co-NCNT). The structure for Co-NCNTs could be easily controlled by regulating cytosine-Co coordination or the carbonization temperature. The optimal Co-NCNT possesses homogeneous distributed NCNTs (10 nm), CoO_x (5 nm) and CoN_x moieties to synergistically boost electrochemical processes, and offer mesoporous nanosheet architecture to guarantee fast mass migrate and electron transfer. As a result, Co-NCNT shows remarkable ORR performance (onset potential of 0.93 V in 0.1 M KOH electrolyte) along with significant OER and HER activity. More important, it was found that CoN_x moieties are responsible for the remarkable electrocatalytic activity in Co-NCNTs, because CoN_x could alter active center, enhance metal-carbon synergy, decrease interfacial resistance and reinforce the strength of composites. Therefore, this paper not just demonstrates an advanced multi-functional electrocatalyst, but could also give deep understanding on the designing of multifunctional electrocatalysts.

Keywords: Carbon nanotube; Electrocatalyst; Gas-foaming assembly; Metal-carbon synergy.