A Versatile Iron-Tannin-Framework Ink Coating Strategy to Fabricate Biomass-Derived Iron Carbide/Fe-N-Carbon Catalysts for Efficient Oxygen Reduction

Jing Wei; Yan Liang; Yaoxin Hu; Biao Kong; George P Simon; Jin Zhang; San Ping Jiang; Huanting Wang

doi:10.1002/anie.201509024

A Versatile Iron-Tannin-Framework Ink Coating Strategy to Fabricate Biomass-Derived Iron Carbide/Fe-N-Carbon Catalysts for Efficient Oxygen Reduction

Angew Chem Int Ed Engl. 2016 Jan 22;55(4):1355-9. doi: 10.1002/anie.201509024. Epub 2015 Dec 11.

Authors

Jing Wei¹, Yan Liang¹, Yaoxin Hu¹, Biao Kong¹, George P Simon², Jin Zhang³, San Ping Jiang³, Huanting Wang⁴

Affiliations

¹ Department of Chemical Engineering, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, 3800, Australia.
² Department of Materials Engineering, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, 3800, Australia.
³ Fuels and Energy Technology Institute & Department of Chemical Engineering, Curtin University, Perth, WA, 6102, Australia.
⁴ Department of Chemical Engineering, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, 3800, Australia. huanting.wang@monash.edu.

PMID: 26661901
DOI: 10.1002/anie.201509024

Abstract

The conversion of biomass into valuable carbon composites as efficient non-precious metal oxygen-reduction electrocatalysts is attractive for the development of commercially viable polymer electrolyte membrane fuel-cell technology. Herein, a versatile iron-tannin-framework ink coating strategy is developed to fabricate cellulose-derived Fe3 C/Fe-N-C catalysts using commercial filter paper, tissue, or cotton as a carbon source, an iron-tannin framework as an iron source, and dicyandiamide as a nitrogen source. The oxygen reduction performance of the resultant Fe3C/Fe-N-C catalysts shows a high onset potential (i.e. 0.98 V vs the reversible hydrogen electrode (RHE)), and large kinetic current density normalized to both geometric electrode area and mass of catalysts (6.4 mA cm(-2) and 32 mA mg(-1) at 0.80 V vs RHE) in alkaline condition. This method can even be used to prepare efficient catalysts using waste carbon sources, such as used polyurethane foam.

Keywords: biomass; carbon; metal-tannin framework; non-precious metal catalysts; oxygen reduction reaction.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't