Graphene Incorporation as a Propitious Approach for Improving the Oxygen Reduction Reaction (ORR) Activity of Self-assembled Polycrystalline NiCo2O4–NiO

Electrocatalytic activity of a new, pristine and graphene-modified NiCo 2 O 4 –NiO catalysts towards oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) was gauged. Linear sweep voltammetry attests that NiCo 2 O 4 –NiO (NCO) catalyst, obtained by a facile synthesis route based on a self-assembling co-templated by dieth...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Electrocatalysis 2020-07, Vol.11 (4), p.443-453
Main Authors: Preda, Loredana, Spataru, Nicolae, Calderon Moreno, Jose Maria, Somacescu, Simona, Marcu, Maria
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Catalysis
Catalysts
Catalytic activity
Chemical synthesis
Chemistry
Chemistry and Materials Science
Deactivation
Diethanolamine
Electrochemistry
Energy Systems
Graphene
Nickel compounds
Nickel oxides
Original Research
Oxygen reduction reactions
Phase composition
Physical Chemistry
Self-assembly
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Summary:Electrocatalytic activity of a new, pristine and graphene-modified NiCo 2 O 4 –NiO catalysts towards oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) was gauged. Linear sweep voltammetry attests that NiCo 2 O 4 –NiO (NCO) catalyst, obtained by a facile synthesis route based on a self-assembling co-templated by diethanolamine (DEA) and tripropylamine (TPA), shows conspicuous catalytic activity towards ORR. The catalytic activity of NCO was tentatively ascribed to the presence of the cubic spinel NiCo 2 O 4 and of a small amount of NiO, as a secondary phase (evidenced by XPS and XRD) which most likely enables the formation of efficient active sites and enhances the conductivity of the material. After mixing the NCO with reduced graphene oxide (rGO), the catalytic activity of the new composite NiCo 2 O 4 –NiO-rGO (NCO-rGO) was significantly improved. Electrochemical results reveal that the presence of graphene facilitates a more efficient mass transport, supplies more accessible active sites, and provides higher stability and better resistance to deactivation during ORR. The synthesis route herein developed for preparing NCO material might be successfully used for large-scale applications due to its outstanding features, such as low cost, easy availability, and straightforward control of the phase composition. Graphical Abstract
ISSN:1868-2529
1868-5994
DOI:10.1007/s12678-020-00605-y