Coherent nanoscale cobalt/cobalt oxide heterostructures embedded in porous carbon for the oxygen reduction reaction.

ABSTRACT: Cost-effective and efficient electrocatalysts for the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) are crucial for fuel cells and metal-air batteries. Herein, we report the facile synthesis of a Co/CoO/Co₃O₄ heterostructure embedded in a porous carbon matrix by refluxing and annealing. This composite exhibits several structural merits for catalyzing the ORR: (1) the existence of metallic Co and graphitic carbon enhanced the electrical conduction; (2) the porous, loose carbon network facilitated the electrolyte permeation and mass transport; (3) more importantly, the nanosized coherent CoO/Co₃O₄ heterojunctions with structural defects and oxygen vacancies enhanced the charge transport/separation at the interface and adsorption affinity to O₂, thus p

SUBMITTER: Li XC 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9084347 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature