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Xu Y, Xie R, Li Q, Feng J, Luo H, Ye Q, Guo Z, Cao Y, Palma M, Chai G, Titirici MM, Jones CR. Pyridine Functionalized Carbon Nanotubes: Unveiling the Role of External Pyridinic Nitrogen Sites for Oxygen Reduction Reaction. SMALL (WEINHEIM AN DER BERGSTRASSE, GERMANY) 2023; 19:e2302795. [PMID: 37415517 DOI: 10.1002/smll.202302795] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/08/2023] [Revised: 06/20/2023] [Indexed: 07/08/2023]
Abstract
Pyridinic nitrogen has been recognized as the primary active site in nitrogen-doped carbon electrocatalysts for the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR), which is a critical process in many renewable energy devices. However, the preparation of nitrogen-doped carbon catalysts comprised of exclusively pyridinic nitrogen remains challenging, as well as understanding the precise ORR mechanisms on the catalyst. Herein, a novel process is developed using pyridyne reactive intermediates to functionalize carbon nanotubes (CNTs) exclusively with pyridine rings for ORR electrocatalysis. The relationship between the structure and ORR performance of the prepared materials is studied in combination with density functional theory calculations to probe the ORR mechanism on the catalyst. Pyridinic nitrogen can contribute to a more efficient 4-electron reaction pathway, while high level of pyridyne functionalization result in negative structural effects, such as poor electrical conductivity, reduced surface area, and small pore diameters, that suppressed the ORR performance. This study provides insights into pyridine-doped CNTs-functionalized for the first time via pyridyne intermediates-as applied in the ORR and is expected to serve as valuable inspiration in designing high-performance electrocatalysts for energy applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yue Xu
- Department of Chemistry, Queen Mary University of London, London, E1 4NS, UK
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Imperial College London, London, SW7 2AZ, UK
| | - Ruikuan Xie
- State Key Laboratory of Structural Chemistry, Fujian Institute of Research on the Structure of Matter, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Fuzhou, 350002, China
| | - Qi Li
- Department of Chemistry, Queen Mary University of London, London, E1 4NS, UK
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Imperial College London, London, SW7 2AZ, UK
| | - Jingyu Feng
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Imperial College London, London, SW7 2AZ, UK
| | - Hui Luo
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Imperial College London, London, SW7 2AZ, UK
| | - Qingyu Ye
- Department of Chemistry, Queen Mary University of London, London, E1 4NS, UK
| | - Zhenyu Guo
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Imperial College London, London, SW7 2AZ, UK
| | - Ye Cao
- Department of Chemistry, Queen Mary University of London, London, E1 4NS, UK
| | - Matteo Palma
- Department of Chemistry, Queen Mary University of London, London, E1 4NS, UK
| | - Guoliang Chai
- State Key Laboratory of Structural Chemistry, Fujian Institute of Research on the Structure of Matter, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Fuzhou, 350002, China
| | | | - Christopher R Jones
- Department of Chemistry, Queen Mary University of London, London, E1 4NS, UK
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Deng S, Qiu C, Yao Z, Sun X, Wei Z, Zhuang G, Zhong X, Wang J. Multiscale simulation on thermal stability of supported metal nanocatalysts. WIRES COMPUTATIONAL MOLECULAR SCIENCE 2019. [DOI: 10.1002/wcms.1405] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Shengwei Deng
- Institute of Industrial Catalysis, College of Chemical Engineering, State Key Laboratory Breeding Base of Green‐Chemical Synthesis Technology Zhejiang University of Technology Hangzhou China
| | - Chenglong Qiu
- Institute of Industrial Catalysis, College of Chemical Engineering, State Key Laboratory Breeding Base of Green‐Chemical Synthesis Technology Zhejiang University of Technology Hangzhou China
| | - Zihao Yao
- Institute of Industrial Catalysis, College of Chemical Engineering, State Key Laboratory Breeding Base of Green‐Chemical Synthesis Technology Zhejiang University of Technology Hangzhou China
| | - Xiang Sun
- Institute of Industrial Catalysis, College of Chemical Engineering, State Key Laboratory Breeding Base of Green‐Chemical Synthesis Technology Zhejiang University of Technology Hangzhou China
| | - Zhongzhe Wei
- Institute of Industrial Catalysis, College of Chemical Engineering, State Key Laboratory Breeding Base of Green‐Chemical Synthesis Technology Zhejiang University of Technology Hangzhou China
| | - Guilin Zhuang
- Institute of Industrial Catalysis, College of Chemical Engineering, State Key Laboratory Breeding Base of Green‐Chemical Synthesis Technology Zhejiang University of Technology Hangzhou China
| | - Xing Zhong
- Institute of Industrial Catalysis, College of Chemical Engineering, State Key Laboratory Breeding Base of Green‐Chemical Synthesis Technology Zhejiang University of Technology Hangzhou China
| | - Jian‐guo Wang
- Institute of Industrial Catalysis, College of Chemical Engineering, State Key Laboratory Breeding Base of Green‐Chemical Synthesis Technology Zhejiang University of Technology Hangzhou China
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Hughes ZE, Walsh TR. Computational chemistry for graphene-based energy applications: progress and challenges. NANOSCALE 2015; 7:6883-6908. [PMID: 25833794 DOI: 10.1039/c5nr00690b] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/04/2023]
Abstract
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.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zak E Hughes
- Institute for Frontier Materials, Deakin University, Geelong, VIC 3216, Australia.
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Wibmer L, Lourenço LMO, Roth A, Katsukis G, Neves MGPMS, Cavaleiro JAS, Tomé JPC, Torres T, Guldi DM. Decorating graphene nanosheets with electron accepting pyridyl-phthalocyanines. NANOSCALE 2015; 7:5674-5682. [PMID: 25740090 DOI: 10.1039/c4nr05719h] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/04/2023]
Abstract
We describe herein the preparation of novel exfoliated graphene-phthalocyanine nanohybrids, and the investigation of their photophysical properties. Pyridyl-phthalocyanines (Pcs) are presented as novel electron accepting building blocks of variable strengths with great potential for the exfoliation of graphite via their immobilization onto the basal plane of graphene in dimethylformamide (DMF) affording single layered and turbostratic graphene based . were fully characterized (AFM, TEM, Raman, steady-state and pump probe transient absorption spectroscopy) and were studied in terms of electron donor-acceptor interactions in the ground and excited states. In this context, electron transfer upon photoexcitation from graphene to the electron accepting Pcs with dynamics, for example, in of <1 and 330 ± 50 ps for charge separation and charge recombination, respectively, was corroborated in a series of steady-state and time-resolved spectroscopy experiments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leonie Wibmer
- Department of Chemistry and Pharmacy and Interdisciplinary Center for Molecular Materials, Friedrich-Alexander-University Erlangen-Nuremberg, 91058 Erlangen, Germany.
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Colherinhas G, Fileti EE, Chaban VV. Can inorganic salts tune electronic properties of graphene quantum dots? Phys Chem Chem Phys 2015; 17:17413-20. [DOI: 10.1039/c5cp02083b] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
In this work, we apply density functional theory to study the effect of neutral ionic clusters adsorbed on the GQD surface. We conclude that both the HOMO and the LUMO of GQDs are very sensitive to the presence of ions and to their distance from the GQD surface. However, the alteration of the band gap itself is modest, as opposed to the case of free ions (recent reports). Our work fosters progress in modulating electronic properties of nanoscale carbonaceous materials.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Eudes Eterno Fileti
- Instituto de Ciência e Tecnologia
- Universidade Federal de São Paulo
- São José dos Campos
- Brazil
| | - Vitaly V. Chaban
- Instituto de Ciência e Tecnologia
- Universidade Federal de São Paulo
- São José dos Campos
- Brazil
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Zhou H, Chen X, Wang L, Zhong X, Zhuang G, Li X, Mei D, Wang J. Effect of graphene with nanopores on metal clusters. Phys Chem Chem Phys 2015; 17:24420-6. [DOI: 10.1039/c5cp04368a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
Graphene with nanopores can enhance the stability of metal clusters and decrease the CO adsorption. Pd supported on graphene with nanopores will act as a superior CO tolerance catalyst.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hu Zhou
- College of Chemical Engineering
- Zhejiang University of Technology
- Hangzhou
- P. R. China
| | - Xianlang Chen
- College of Chemical Engineering
- Zhejiang University of Technology
- Hangzhou
- P. R. China
| | - Lei Wang
- College of Chemical Engineering
- Zhejiang University of Technology
- Hangzhou
- P. R. China
| | - Xing Zhong
- College of Chemical Engineering
- Zhejiang University of Technology
- Hangzhou
- P. R. China
| | - Guilin Zhuang
- College of Chemical Engineering
- Zhejiang University of Technology
- Hangzhou
- P. R. China
| | - Xiaonian Li
- College of Chemical Engineering
- Zhejiang University of Technology
- Hangzhou
- P. R. China
| | - Donghai Mei
- Institute for Integrated Catalysis
- Pacific Northwest National Laboratory
- Richland
- USA
| | - Jianguo Wang
- College of Chemical Engineering
- Zhejiang University of Technology
- Hangzhou
- P. R. China
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