In:
Advanced Energy Materials, Wiley, Vol. 5, No. 17 ( 2015-09)
Abstract:
A single material that can perform water oxidation and oxygen reduction reactions (ORR), also called bifunctional catalyst, represents a novel concept that emerged from recent materials research and that has led to applications in new‐generation energy‐storage systems, such as regenerative fuel cells. Here, metal/metal‐oxide free, doped graphene derived from rhombohedral boron carbide (B 4 C) is demonstrated to be an effective bifunctional catalyst for the first time. B 4 C, one of the hardest materials in nature next to diamond and cubic boron nitride, is converted and separated in bulk to form heteroatom (boron, B) doped graphene (BG, yield ≈7% by weight, after the first cycle). This structural conversion of B 4 C to graphene is accompanied by in situ boron doping and results in the formation of an electrochemically active material from a non‐electrochemically active material, broadening its potential for application in various energy‐related technologies. The electrocatalytic efficacy of BG is studied using various voltammetric techniques. The results show a four‐electron transfer mechanism as well as a high methanol tolerance and stability towards ORR. The results are comparable to those from commercial 20 wt% Pt/C in terms of performance. Furthermore, the bifunctionality of the BG is also demonstrated by its performance in water oxidation.
Type of Medium:
Online Resource
ISSN:
1614-6832
,
1614-6840
DOI:
10.1002/aenm.201500658
Language:
English
Publisher:
Wiley
Publication Date:
2015
detail.hit.zdb_id:
2594556-7
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