Highly efficient Co@NCS nanosheet electrocatalyst for oxygen reduction reaction: An environment-friendly, low-cost and sustainable electrocatalyst

Abstract

Rational, low cost, stable and more realistic synthesis of electrocatalysts comprising of earth abundant metals alterative to platinum-based catalysts is highly required for fuel cells. In this work, we demonstrate 2D nanosheet catalyst from metal organic frame works with zinc and 2-amino thiazole as organic ligand in presence of cobalt metal ions. The special bonding configurations of zinc with 2-amino thiazole ligand resulted in formation of 2D ZnxCo1-x(C3H4N2S) and the pyrolysis of 2D ZnxCo1-x(C3H4N2S) resulted in Co@NSC electrocatalyst. The electrochemical oxygen reduction reaction analysis of the Co@NSC catalyst reveals excellent activity with the half-wave potential of 0.88 V, similar to the commercial Pt/C catalyst. Moreover, Co@NSC catalyst also show the ultra-low HO2− formation bellow < 0.5 %, along with negligible degradation after 5000 potential cycles. In a alkaline fuel cell conditions, the Co@NCS catalyst delivered a power density of 37 mW cm-2.