N-doped Carbon Foam Research Articles

2D ultrathin Co3O4 nanosheet array deposited on 3D carbon foam for enhanced ethanol gas sensing application

Gas sensing or gas detection with high sensitivity and selectivity is of extreme importance for monitoring the change of concentration of gases in various environments. In the present work, the ethanol gas sensing material based on two-dimensional (2D) mesoporous Co3O4 nanosheet array in situ formed on three-dimensional (3D) N-doped carbon foam (NCF) was fabricated by hydrothermal and annealing processes. The 2D mesoporous Co3O4 nanosheets have an average thickness of ca.20nm and average pore diameter and specific surface area of about 2.3nm and 444.3m2g−1, respectively. Due to the unique nanostructure, the sensing material exhibited low operation temperature and high sensitivity for ethanol gas sensing. The optimum working temperature and the limit of detection (LOD) of the composite for ethanol gas detection can reach 100°C and 0.2ppm, respectively. The present 2D/3D metal oxide/carbon hybrid nanostructure shows a novel and promising platform for gas sensing applications.

Fe–N-Doped carbon foam nanosheets with embedded Fe2O3 nanoparticles for highly efficient oxygen reduction in both alkaline and acidic media

We report a high performance oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) electrocatalyst Fe2O3@Fe–N–C, which is composed of Fe–N-doped carbon foam nanosheets with embedded carbon coated Fe2O3 nanoparticles to enhance the ORR performance in both alkaline and acidic media.

Bioinspired Synthesis of Hierarchically Porous MoO2/Mo2C Nanocrystal Decorated N-Doped Carbon Foam for Lithium–Oxygen Batteries

The lithium oxygen (Li–O2) battery is one of the most promising technologies among various electrochemical energy storage systems. The challenge to develop a high-performance Li–O2 battery lies in exploring an air electrode with optimal porous structure and high efficient bifunctional electrocatalyst. The present work demonstrates a bioinspired synthesis route for the preparation of high performance Li–O2 air electrode materials that are made out of N-doped carbon foams decorated with heteronanostructured MoO2/Mo2C nanocrystals (MoO2/Mo2C@3D NCF). Here, recombinant proteins (ELK16-FLAG) facilitated the self-assembly of metal precursors and provided a carbon source for Mo2C formation. The as-prepared MoO2/Mo2C@3D NCF showed superior electrocatalytic activity in both oxygen evolution reaction and oxygen reduction reaction mechanisms with a high round-trip efficiency of 89.1% (2.77 V/3.11 V) at 100 mA g–1 as well as exceptional rate performances and good cyclability in Li–O2 battery. The desirable electroche...

Mesoporous Ni[sbnd]Co based nanowire arrays supported on three-dimensional N-doped carbon foams as non-noble catalysts for efficient oxygen reduction reaction

Homologous NiCo based mesoporous nanowire arrays, involving nickel cobalt oxide (NiCo2O4) and nickel cobalt sulfide (NiCo2S4), are successfully grown on three-dimensional (3D) nitrogen-doped carbon foam (NDCF) via a facile hydrothermal reaction followed by annealing and sulfurization treatment, respectively. The NiCo2O4 nanowires in the obtained NiCo2O4/NDCF composites are composed of numerous small nanoparticles with the presence of mesopores, while the NiCo2S4 nanowires of NiCo2S4/NDCF composites exhibit unique hollow structures with mesoporous walls. When served as non-noble catalysts for oxygen reduction reaction (ORR), the homologous NiCo2O4/NDCF and NiCo2S4/NDCF composites exhibit a comparable catalytic activity with a four-electron pathway, superior selectively and methanol tolerance over commercial Pt/C catalyst. Especially, the NiCo2S4/NDCF composites possess much higher stability than the Pt/C catalyst in alkaline electrolyte, thus holding great promise in practical application. The impressive performance may originate from the hollow nanowire morphology and the unique mesoporous structure which provide a high surface density of catalytic active sites exposed to oxygen molecules and facilitate the efficient transport of reactant species. Meanwhile, the introduced NDCF with enhanced catalytic activity from the incorporation of the N element generates synergistic effect with NiCo2O4 and NiCo2S4, and enhances their conductivities, therefore playing a significant role in improving their catalytic performance.

Three-dimensional, highly porous N-doped carbon foam as microorganism propitious, efficient anode for high performance microbial fuel cell

Microbial fuel cell based on as-prepared N-doped carbon foam produced 2 times higher power density than the commercial graphite felt.

In situ synthesis of flexible elastic N-doped carbon foam as a carbon current collector and interlayer for high-performance lithium sulfur batteries

A flexible elastic N-doped carbon foam (NCF) has been successfully synthesized in situ via direct carbonization/pyrolysis of polyurethane foam, which is a facile, cost-effective and environmentally friendly method.

N-doped carbon foam based three-dimensional electrode architectures and asymmetric supercapacitors

A high-performance asymmetric supercapacitor was constructed with a self-supported carbon foam (CF)/ordered mesoporous carbon film and a free-standing CF-NiCo2O4composite.

Fe, Co, N-functionalized carbon nanotubes in situ grown on 3D porous N-doped carbon foams as a noble metal-free catalyst for oxygen reduction

3D Fe, Co, N-functionalized carbon nanotubes grown on carbon foam were fabricated and the hybrid exhibited high ORR electrocatalytic performance.

Three-dimensional iron, nitrogen-doped carbon foams as efficient electrocatalysts for oxygen reduction reaction in alkaline solution

Three-dimensional (3D) Fe, N-doped carbon foams (3D-CF) as efficient cathode catalysts for the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) in alkaline solution are reported. The 3D-CF exhibit interconnected hierarchical pore structure. In addition, Fe, N-doped carbon without porous strucuture (Fe-N-C) and 3D N-doped carbon without Fe (3D-CF’) are prepared to verify the electrocatalytic activity of 3D-CF. The electrocatalytic performance of as-prepared 3D-CF for ORR shows that the onset potential on 3D-CF electrode positively shifts about 41mV than those of 3D-CF’ and Fe-N-C respectively. In addition, the onset potential on 3D-CF electrode for ORR is about 27mV more negative than that on commercial Pt/C electrode. 3D-CF also show better methanol tolerance and durability than commercial Pt/C catalyst. These results show that to synthesize 3D hierarchical pores with high specific surface area is an efficient way to improve the ORR performance.