Facile synthesis of sewage sludge-derived in-situ multi-doped nanoporous carbon material for electrocatalytic oxygen reduction.

ABSTRACT: Developing efficient, low-cost, and stable carbon-based catalysts for oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) to replace the expensive platinum-based electrocatalysts remains a major challenge that hamper the practical application of fuel cells. Here, we report that N, Fe, and S co-doped nanoporous carbon material, derived via a facile one-step pyrolysis of sewage sludge, the major byproduct of wastewater treatment, can serve as an effective electrocatalyst for ORR. Except for the comparable catalytic activity with commercial 20% Pt/C via a nearly four-electron transfer pathway in both alkaline and acid medium, the as-synthesized co-doped electrocatalyst also exhibits excellent methanol crossover resistance and outstanding long-term operation stability. The organic compounds in sewage sludge act a

SUBMITTER: Yuan SJ 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4895130 | biostudies-literature | 2016 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature