Chinese Journal of Catalysis ›› 2014, Vol. 35 ›› Issue (4): 509-513.DOI: 10.1016/S1872-2067(14)60016-4

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Rapid synthesis of nitrogen-doped graphene by microwave heating for oxygen reduction reactions in alkaline electrolyte

Zhongwei Wanga,b, Bo Lia,b, Yuchen Xina,b, Jianguo Liua,b, Yingfang Yaoa,b, Zhigang Zoua,b   

  1. a Eco-materials and Renewable Energy Research Center, Department of Materials Science and Engineering, National Laboratory of Solid State Microstructures, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210093, Jiangsu, China;
    b Kunshan Innovation Institute of Nanjing University, Suzhou 215347, Jiangsu, China
  • Received:2013-11-28 Revised:2013-12-27 Online:2014-03-20 Published:2014-03-21
  • Supported by:

    This work was supported by the National Natural Foundation of China (21176111), the National Basic Research Program (973 Program, 2013CB632404), the National High Technology Research and Development Program of China (863 Program, 2011AA11A271), and A Project Funded by the Priority Academic Program Development of Jiangsu Higher Education Institutions.

Abstract:

Nitrogen-doped graphene (NG) with a nitrogen content from 4.05 wt% to 5.47 wt% was rapidly prepared via microwave heating of graphene under NH3 flow. The as-synthesized NG samples were then used as electrocatalysts in the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) in alkaline solution. The NG samples showed excellent ORR catalytic activity with an onset potential of 0.17 V, which is comparable to that of commercial Pt/C electrocatalyst (0.21 V). The structure, composition, and nitrogen species of the NG samples were examined by transmission electron microscopy, Raman spectroscopy, elemental analysis and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. The onset potential increases with the content of graphite nitrogen in the NG samples, indicating that graphite nitrogen might be the main factor controlling the performance of the NG samples in the ORR. The results showed that NG prepared by rapid microwave heating is a promising ORR catalyst for fuel cells.

Key words: Fuel cell, Oxygen reduction reaction, Onset potential, Nitrogen doped graphene, Microwave heating