Nitrogen-modified carbon-based catalysts for oxygen reduction reaction in polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells

  • Nalini P. Subramanian
  • , Xuguang Li
  • , Vijayadurda Nallathambi
  • , Swaminatha P. Kumaraguru
  • , Hector Colon-Mercado
  • , Gang Wu
  • , Jong Won Lee
  • , Branko N. Popov

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

435 Scopus citations

Abstract

Nitrogen-modified carbon-based catalysts for oxygen reduction were synthesized by modifying carbon black with nitrogen-containing organic precursors. The electrocatalytic properties of catalysts were studied as a function of surface pre-treatments, nitrogen and oxygen concentrations, and heat-treatment temperatures. On the optimum catalyst, the onset potential for oxygen reduction is approximately 0.76 V (NHE) and the amount of hydrogen peroxide produced at 0.5 V (NHE) is approximately 3% under our experimental conditions. The characterization studies indicated that pyridinic and graphitic (quaternary) nitrogens may act as active sites of catalysts for oxygen reduction reaction. In particular, pyridinic nitrogen, which possesses one lone pair of electrons in addition to the one electron donated to the conjugated π bond, facilitates the reductive oxygen adsorption.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)38-44
Number of pages7
JournalJournal of Power Sources
Volume188
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - Mar 1 2009

Keywords

  • Carbon-based catalyst
  • Nitrogen modification
  • Oxygen reduction
  • PEM fuel cell

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