Carbon xerogels co-doped with nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) or sulfur (S) were synthesized and employed as catalysts for the electrocatalytic reduction of p-nitrophenol (p-NP). The materials were prepared by first synthesizing N-doped carbon xerogels (NDCX) via the pyrolysis of organic gels, and then introducing P or S atoms to the NDCX by a vapor deposition method. The materials were characterized by various measurements including X-ray diffraction, N2 physisorption, Transmission electron microscopy, Fourier Infrared spectrometer, and X-ray photoelectron spectra, which showed that N atoms were successfully doped to the carbon xerogels, and the co-doping of P or S atoms affected the existing status of N atoms. Cyclic voltammetry (CV) scanning manifested that the N and P co-doped materials, i.e., P-NDCX-1.0, was the most suitable catalyst for the reaction, showing an overpotential of -0.569 V (vs. Ag/AgCl) and a peak slop of 695.90 μA/V. The material was also stable in the reaction and only a 14 mV shift in the reduction peak overpotential was observed after running for 100 cycles.
Keywords: carbon xerogels; electrocatalytic reduction; p-nitrophenol; synergistic co-doping.