NiCo–N-doped carbon nanotubes based cathode catalyst for alkaline membrane fuel cell

Abstract

For alkaline fuel cell, development of highly efficient catalysts based on non-noble metal for oxygen reduction reaction is of high significance. In this work, synthesis of nitrogen doped carbon nanotubes (NCNTs) derived from Zeolitic Imidazolate Frameworks (ZIFs) and their performance for oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) in alkaline medium are studied. The NiCo/NCNTs (nitrogen doped carbon nanotubes) showing excellent ORR performance in KOH with current density of −5.6 mA cm−2 and onset potential of 0.98 V vs RHE. The improved electrochemical performance and stability is credited to the synergetic effect of the nitrogen doped carbon nanotubes (NCNTs) and the Ni/Co active sites. The alkaline fuel cell performance of NiCo/NCNTs as cathode catalyst was 65 mW cm−2, which is slightly higher than the commercial Pt/C as cathode (60 mW cm−2). These results indicate that NiCo/NCNTs are promising electrocatalysts for ORR in alkaline fuel cell.