Active Sites and Mechanisms for Oxygen Reduction Reaction on Nitrogen-Doped Carbon Alloy Catalysts: Stone–Wales Defect and Curvature Effect

Topological Defects in Metal-Free Nanocarbon for Oxygen Electrocatalysis

A bifunctional graphene catalyst with abundant topological defects is achieved via the carbonization of natural gelatinized sticky rice to probe the underlying oxygen electrocatalytic mechanism. A nitrogen-free configuration with adjacent pentagon and heptagon carbon rings is revealed to exhibit the lowest overpotential for both oxygen reduction and evolution catalysis. The versatile synthetic strategy and novel insights on the activity origin facilitate the development of advanced metal-free carbocatalysts for a wide range of electrocatalytic applications.

Highly Functional Bioinspired Fe/N/C Oxygen Reduction Reaction Catalysts: Structure-Regulating Oxygen Sorption

Tuna is one of the most rapid and distant swimmers. Its unique gill structure with the porous lamellae promotes fast oxygen exchange that guarantees tuna's high metabolic and athletic demands. Inspired by this specific structure, we designed and fabricated microporous graphene nanoplatelets (GNPs)-based Fe/N/C electrocatalysts for oxygen reduction reaction (ORR). Careful control of GNP structure leads to the increment of microporosity, which influences the O2 adsorption positively and desorption oppositely, resulting in enhanced O2 diffusion, while experiencing reduced ORR kinetics. Working in the cathode of proton-exchange membrane fuel cells, the GNP catalysts require a compromise between adsorption/desorption for effective O2 exchange, and as a result, appropriate microporosity is needed. In this work, the highest power density, 521 mW·cm(-2), at zero back pressure is achieved.

Metal-Organic-Framework-Derived Dual Metal- and Nitrogen-Doped Carbon as Efficient and Robust Oxygen Reduction Reaction Catalysts for Microbial Fuel Cells

A new class of dual metal and N doped carbon catalysts with well-defined porous structure derived from metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) has been developed as a high-performance electrocatalyst for oxygen reduction reaction (ORR). Furthermore, the microbial fuel cell (MFC) device based on the as-prepared Ni/Co and N codoped carbon as air cathode catalyst achieves a maximum power density of 4335.6 mW m-2 and excellent durability.

Template-free synthesis of porous carbonaceous solid acids with controllable acid sites and their excellent activity for catalyzing the synthesis of biofuels and fine chemicals

Highly porous carbonaceous solid acids with controllable acidity and enhanced activities for catalyzing biomass transformation have been prepared under template free conditions.

Highly effective sites and selectivity of nitrogen-doped graphene/CNT catalysts for CO2 electrochemical reduction

The selectivity of CO₂ electrochemical reduction can be tuned for N-doped graphene/CNT catalysts after active sites are determined.

Metal-free catalysts, such as graphene/carbon nanostructures, are highly cost-effective to replace expensive noble metals for CO₂ reduction if fundamental issues, such as active sites and selectivity, are clearly understood. Using both density functional theory (DFT) and ab initio molecular dynamic calculations, we show that the interplay of N-doping and curvature can effectively tune the activity and selectivity of graphene/carbon-nanotube (CNT) catalysts. The CO₂ activation barrier can be optimized to 0.58 eV for graphitic-N doped graphene edges, compared with 1.3 eV in the un-doped counterpart. The graphene catalyst without curvature shows strong selectivity for CO/HCOOH production, whereas the (6, 0) CNT with a high degree of curvature is effective for both CH₃OH and HCHO production. Curvature is also very influential to tune the overpotential for a given product, e.g. from 1.5 to 0.02 V for CO production and from 1.29 to 0.49 V for CH₃OH production. Hence, the graphene/CNT nanostructures offer great scope and flexibility for effective tunning of catalyst efficiency and selectivity, as shown here for CO₂ reduction.

Ultrathin Wrinkled N-Doped Carbon Nanotubes for Noble-Metal Loading and Oxygen Reduction Reaction

We describe the fabrication of ultrathin wrinkled N-doped carbon nanotubes by an in situ solid-state method. The positions of Co catalyst were first labeled by good-dispersion and highly loaded Au and Pt, indicating the most of Co are unsealed. The resultant unique nanoarchitecture, which exhibits the features of carbon nanotube and graphene with a combined effect of 1D and 2D carbon-based nanostructures, exhibited a superior ORR activity to carbon nanotubes and graphene. Moreover, the novel catalysts showed a better durability and higher tolerance to methanol crossover and poisoning effects than those of Pt/C.

Nitrogen-Nitrogen Bonds Undermine Stability of N-Doped Graphene

Two-dimensional alloys of carbon and nitrogen draw strong interest due to prospective applications in nanomechanical and optoelectronic devices. The stability of these chemical structures can vary greatly as a function of chemical composition and structure. The present study employs hybrid density functional theory and reactive molecular dynamics simulations to elucidate how many nitrogen atoms can be incorporated into the graphene sheet without destroying it. We conclude that (1) the C/N = 56:29 structure and all nitrogen-poorer structures maintain stability at 1000 K; (2) the stability suffers greatly in the presence of N-N bonds; and (3) distribution of electron density depends heavily on the structural pattern in the N-doped graphene. Our calculations support the experimental efforts aimed at production of highly N-doped graphene and generate important insights into the mechanisms of tuning graphene mechanical and optoelectronic properties. The theoretical prediction can be tested directly by chemical synthesis.

Two-dimensional iron-phthalocyanine (Fe-Pc) monolayer as a promising single-atom-catalyst for oxygen reduction reaction: a computational study

Searching for low-cost non-Pt catalysts for oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) has been a key scientific issue in the development of fuel cells. In this work, the potential of utilizing the experimentally available two-dimensional (2D) Fe-phthalocyanine (Fe-Pc) monolayer with precisely-controlled distribution of Fe atoms as a catalyst of ORR was systematically explored by means of comprehensive density functional theory computations. The computations revealed that O2 molecules can be sufficiently activated on the surface of the Fe-Pc monolayer, and the subsequent ORR steps prefer to proceed on the Fe-Pc monolayer through a more efficient 4e pathway with a considerable limiting potential of 0.68 V. Especially, the Fe-Pc monolayer is more stable than the Fe-Pc molecule in acidic medium, and can present good catalytic performance for ORR on the addition of axial ligands. Therefore, the Fe-Pc monolayer is quite a promising single-atom-catalyst with high efficiency for ORR in fuel cells.

Computational chemistry for graphene-based energy applications: progress and challenges

Research in graphene-based energy materials is a rapidly growing area. Many graphene-based energy applications involve interfacial processes. To enable advances in the design of these energy materials, such that their operation, economy, efficiency and durability is at least comparable with fossil-fuel based alternatives, connections between the molecular-scale structure and function of these interfaces are needed. While it is experimentally challenging to resolve this interfacial structure, molecular simulation and computational chemistry can help bridge these gaps. In this Review, we summarise recent progress in the application of computational chemistry to graphene-based materials for fuel cells, batteries, photovoltaics and supercapacitors. We also outline both the bright prospects and emerging challenges these techniques face for application to graphene-based energy materials in future.

Effect of UV light-induced nitrogen doping on the field effect transistor characteristics of graphene

Control of electron concentration in graphene is achieved in the range of 10¹² to 10¹³ cm⁻² by nitrogen doping using photochemical reactions.

O2 and H2O2 transformation steps for the oxygen reduction reaction catalyzed by graphitic nitrogen-doped carbon nanotubes in acidic electrolyte from first principles calculations

DFT calculations reveal a mixed mechanism for the oxygen reduction reaction catalyzed by nitrogen-doped carbon nanotubes in acidic electrolyte.

A concise guide to sustainable PEMFCs: recent advances in improving both oxygen reduction catalysts and proton exchange membranes

The rising interest in fuel cell vehicle (FCV) technology has created a growing and timely need and realization to develop rational chemical strategies to create highly efficient, durable, and cost-effective fuel cells.