The use of cheap polyaniline and melamine co-modified carbon nanotubes as active and stable catalysts for oxygen reduction reaction in alkaline medium

Abstract

In this work, an active and stable electrocatalyst for alkaline electrolyte oxygen reduction reaction was prepared by using single-wall carbon nanotubes with high specific surface area as the carbon source, and polyaniline and melamine as dual nitrogen sources via high-temperature pyrolysis process. Electrochemical experiments suggest that the metallic cobalt in the precursor can facilitate the oxygen reduction reaction to be carried out with an efficient 4-electron transfer pathway. Besides, the prepared catalyst has exhibited superior tolerance against methanol crossover effect and outstanding stability compared with commercial Pt-based catalysts in alkaline medium.