Cobalt Nanoparticles Supported Graphitic Carbon Nitride Electrocatalyst for Oxygen Reduction

Abstract

This study is focused on the fabrication of cobalt nanoparticles supported graphitic carbon nitride (CoNPs-g-C3N4) by microwave synthesis and their application for oxygen reduction reaction (ORR). X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and Inductively Coupled Plasma Optical Emission Spectroscopy (ICP-OES) were employed to characterize the prepared catalysts. The electrocatalytic activity of CoNPs-g-C3N4 for ORR was investigated using the rotating disk electrode technique in 0.1 M KOH solution.It has been determined that the g-C3N4, prepared by annealing melamine at a temperature of 520 oC for two h, had a high nitrogen content of 67.92 at.%. The data of the oxygen reduction on the CoNPs-g-C3N4 catalysts with different Co loadings and under various conditions are presented. Compared to the metal-free g-C3N4, the doping of g-C3N4 with CoNPs enhances the electrocatalytic activity and the selectivity towards the 4e- reduction reaction of O2 to H2O.AcknowledgmentThis project has received funding from European Social Fund (project No. 09.3.3-LMT-K-712-23-0188) under a grant agreement with the Research Council of Lithuania (LMTLT).