Issue 34, 2010

Nitrogen doped graphene nanoplatelets as catalyst support for oxygenreduction reaction in proton exchange membranefuelcell

Abstract

Graphene nanoplatelets have been synthesized by thermal exfoliation of graphitic oxide and nitrogen doped graphene nanoplatelets have been obtained by nitrogen plasma treatment. Graphene nanoplatelets and nitrogen doped graphene nanoplatelets have been used as a catalyst support for platinum nanoparticles for oxygen reduction reactions in proton exchange membrane fuel cells. Platinum nanoparticles were dispersed over these support materials using the conventional chemical reduction technique. The morphology and structure of the graphene based powder samples were studied using X-ray diffraction, Raman spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. A full cell was constructed with platinum loaded nitrogen doped graphene nanoplatelets and the results have been compared with platinum loaded graphene nanoplatelets. A maximum power density of 440 and 390 mW cm−2 has been obtained with platinum loaded nitrogen doped graphene and platinum loaded graphene nanoplatelets as ORR catalysts respectively. Nitrogen plasma treatment created pyrrolic nitrogen defects, which act as good anchoring sites for the deposition of platinum nanoparticles. The improved performance of fuel cells with N-G as catalyst supports can be attributed to the increased electrical conductivity and improved carboncatalyst binding.

Graphical abstract: Nitrogen doped graphene nanoplatelets as catalyst support for oxygen reduction reaction in proton exchange membrane fuel cell

Article information

Article type
Paper
Submitted
21 Feb 2010
Accepted
02 Jun 2010
First published
22 Jul 2010

J. Mater. Chem., 2010,20, 7114-7117

Nitrogen doped graphene nanoplatelets as catalyst support for oxygen reduction reaction in proton exchange membrane fuel cell

R. Imran Jafri, N. Rajalakshmi and S. Ramaprabhu, J. Mater. Chem., 2010, 20, 7114 DOI: 10.1039/C0JM00467G

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