Nitrogen-doped graphene-like carbon from bio-waste as efficient low-cost electrocatalyst for fuel cell application

• Published in: Bulletin of materials science Vol. 44; no. 2; p. 135
• Main Authors: Bosubabu, Dasari, Parthiban, V, Sahu, A K, Ramesha, K
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Bangalore Indian Academy of Sciences 01.06.2021; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Adsorption; Anion exchanging; Bagasse; Carbon; Catalysts; Catalytic activity; Chemical reduction; Chemistry and Materials Science; Efficiency; Electrocatalysts; Electrodes; Electrons; Engineering; Fuel cells; Graphene; Hydrogen; Low cost; Materials Science; Melamine; Nitrogen; Oxygen reduction reactions; Sugarcane; Voltammetry; Nitrogen-doped carbon; electrocatalyst; fuel cell; oxygen reduction reaction; bio-waste derived carbon
• ISSN: 0250-4707; 0973-7669
• DOI: 10.1007/s12034-021-02367-9

The development of metal-free carbon-based catalysts for alkaline fuel cells has been the subject of current interest, because of the low cost and improving fuel cell efficiency. Particularly, nitrogen-doped carbon shows prominent results. Here, we show an oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) activity of nitrogen-doped graphene-like carbon materials (N-GLC) prepared by heating bagasse-derived carbon and melamine in a 1:15 ratio. The N-GLC catalyst displays excellent electro-catalytic activity towards the ORR with an onset potential of 0.92 V vs. reversible hydrogen electrode (RHE) in alkaline media (0.1 M KOH). Moreover, the half-wave ( E 1/2 ) potential 0.83 V is almost the same compared to Pt-C (40 wt%) catalyst and the diffusion limiting current of 4 mA cm –2 . The rotating ring disc experiment showed a four-electron pathway ( n  = 3.65) with the moderate peroxide ( HO 2 - ) yield. Due to its promising ORR activity and long-term electrochemical stability, N-GLC catalyst is used in alkaline anion exchange membrane fuel cell (AEMFC) as a single cell, about 6 mW cm –2 peak power density was achieved at the load current density of ~20 mA cm –2 . So the N-GLC can be a cheap alternative ORR catalyst for AEMFC applications.