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Electrochemical Synthesis of Multilayered Graphene and Its Use in Co–N–C Electrocatalysts of Oxygen Reduction and Hydrogen Evolution

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Abstract

It is shown that the use of aqueous electrolytes based on salts of various aromatic carboxylic acids in the course of electrochemical exfoliation of graphite allows producing multilayered graphene (MLG) and protects it from the negative oxidative action of oxygen-containing radicals, in particular, ∙OH radicals formed at water electrolysis on the graphite anode. It is shown that the electrochemically synthesized MLG can be used for the formation of noble-metal-free carbonized nanocomposite Co–N–C electrocatalysts of the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) and the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER). Such poly-2,6-diaminopyridine-based catalysts in aqueous 0.5 М H2SO4 are shown to surpass their acetylene black-based analogues as regards their functional characteristics in ORR and HER and also are highly tolerant with respect to CO and methanol in the course of oxygen reduction. Based on experimental data, it is concluded that the predominant active centers in Co–N–C electrocatalysts based on MLG and acetylene black are of the different nature and that the same active centers are involved in ORR and HER.

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Funding

This study is partly supported by the targeted complex programs of scientific research of the National Academy of Sciences (NAN) of Ukraine “Fundamental Aspects of Renewable Hydrogen Energetics and Fuel Cell Technologies” and “New Functional Substances and Materials for Chemical Industry” and also by the targeted complex program of fundamental research of the NAN of Ukraine “Fundamental Problems of the Development of New Nanomaterials and Nanotechnologies.”

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Pisarzhevskii Institute of Physical Chemistry, National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, 03028, Kiev, Ukraine

    Ya. I. Kurys, O. O. Pariiska, D. O. Mazur, V. G. Koshechko & V. D. Pokhodenko

  2. Taras Shevchenko National University of Kiev, 02094, Kiev, Ukraine

    K. S. Gavrilenko

  3. Enamin Company, 02094, Kiev, Ukraine

    K. S. Gavrilenko

Authors
  1. Ya. I. Kurys
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  2. O. O. Pariiska
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  3. D. O. Mazur
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  4. K. S. Gavrilenko
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  5. V. G. Koshechko
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  6. V. D. Pokhodenko
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Correspondence to Ya. I. Kurys.

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Translated by T. Safonova

Published on the basis of materials of the XIX All-Russian Conference “Electrochemistry of Organic Compounds” (EKHOS-2018) (with international participation), Novocherkassk, 2018.

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Kurys, Y.I., Pariiska, O.O., Mazur, D.O. et al. Electrochemical Synthesis of Multilayered Graphene and Its Use in Co–N–C Electrocatalysts of Oxygen Reduction and Hydrogen Evolution. Russ J Electrochem 56, 271–284 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1134/S1023193520040072

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1134/S1023193520040072

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