journal article·2019-09

Electrocatalysts for oxygen reduction reaction based on electrospun polyacrylonitrile, styrene–acrylonitrile copolymer and carbon nanotube composite fibres

Marek Mooste, Elo Kibena-Põldsepp, Viktoria Vassiljeva, Maido Merisalu, Mati Kook, Alexey Treshchalov, Vambola Kisand, Mai Uibu, Andres Krumme, Väino Sammelselg, Kaido Tammeveski

Journal of Materials Science· Volume 54· Issue 17
Publisher page

Abstract

In this work, polyacrylonitrile (PAN), styrene–acrylonitrile copolymer (SAN) and multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) composite fibres (PAN/SAN/CNT) were prepared by electrospinning. The electrospun fibres were further pyrolysed (800–1200 °C) in N2 atmosphere with or without prior stabilisation (at 250 °C) in air to produce electrocatalyst materials for oxygen reduction reaction (ORR). The ORR was studied in alkaline solution by linear sweep voltammetry and rotating disc electrode (RDE) method. Scanning electron microscopy images revealed the tubular structure of the pyrolysed PAN/SAN/CNT fibres with visible MWCNTs. According to the X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy results, the prepared catalysts consisted of carbon, oxygen and nitrogen. According to the RDE results, the most active catalyst towards the ORR (the onset and half-wave potential of − 0.13 V and −0.29 V vs SCE in 0.1 M KOH, respectively) was obtained by pyrolysing non-stabilised PAN/SAN/CNT fibres at 1100 °C. The ORR activity of the best performing catalyst is attributed to the nitrogen species, quinone groups and porous tubular structure of the catalyst material.
Source: openaire · Quality: candidate unverified · Source record ↗

Research context

OpenAlex topics: Supercapacitor Materials and Fabrication · Conducting polymers and applications · Electrocatalysts for Energy Conversion

SciVX discovery tags are terminology-based. OpenAlex topics are source-provided classifications.

References (78)

Show source-provided references
1. Liu Q, Zhu JH, Zhang LW, Qiu YJ (2018) Recent advances in energy materials by electrospinning. Renew Sustain Energy Rev 81:1825–185810.1016/j.rser.2017.05.281 ↗
2. Sarapuu A, Kibena-Põldsepp E, Borghei M, Tammeveski K (2018) Electrocatalysis of oxygen reduction on heteroatom-doped nanocarbons and transition metal-nitrogen-carbon catalysts for alkaline membrane fuel cells. J Mater Chem A 6:776–80410.1039/C7TA08690C ↗
3. Rauf M, Wang JW, Zhang PX, Iqbal W, Qu JL, Li YL (2018) Non-precious nanostructured materials by electrospinning and their applications for oxygen reduction in polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells. J Power Sources 408:17–2710.1016/j.jpowsour.2018.10.074 ↗
4. Miao FJ, Shao CL, Li XH, Lu N, Wang KX, Zhang X, Liu YC (2015) Flexible solid-state supercapacitors based on freestanding electrodes of electrospun polyacrylonitrile@polyaniline core-shell nanofibers. Electrochim Acta 176:293–30010.1016/j.electacta.2015.06.141 ↗
5. Kim M, Kim Y, Lee KM, Jeong SY, Lee E, Baeck SH, Shim SE (2016) Electrochemical improvement due to alignment of carbon nanofibers fabricated by electrospinning as an electrode for supercapacitor. Carbon 99:607–61810.1016/j.carbon.2015.12.068 ↗
6. Ju YW, Choi GR, Jung HR, Lee WJ (2008) Electrochemical properties of electrospun PAN/MWCNT carbon nanofibers electrodes coated with polypyrrole. Electrochim Acta 53:5796–580310.1016/j.electacta.2008.03.028 ↗
7. Xue GB, Zhong J, Cheng YL, Wang B (2016) Facile fabrication of cross-linked carbon nanofiber via directly carbonizing electrospun polyacrylonitrile nanofiber as high performance scaffold for supercapacitors. Electrochim Acta 215:29–3510.1016/j.electacta.2016.08.063 ↗
8. Zhou ZP, Wu XF, Hou HQ (2014) Electrospun carbon nanofibers surface-grown with carbon nanotubes and polyaniline for use as high-performance electrode materials of supercapacitors. RSC Adv 4:23622–2362910.1039/C4RA00964A ↗
9. Alegre C, Modica E, Di Blasi A, Di Blasi O, Busacca C, Ferraro M, Arico AS, Antonucci V, Baglio V (2018) NiCo-loaded carbon nanofibers obtained by electrospinning: bifunctional behavior as air electrodes. Renew Energy 125:250–25910.1016/j.renene.2018.02.089 ↗
10. Surendran S, Shanmugapriya S, Sivanantham A, Shanmugam S, Selvan RK (2018) Electrospun carbon nanofibers encapsulated with NiCoP: a multifunctional electrode for supercapattery and oxygen reduction, oxygen evolution, and hydrogen evolution reactions. Adv Energy Mater 8:180055510.1002/aenm.201800555 ↗
11. Lee BS, Son SB, Park KM, Lee G, Oh KH, Lee SH, Yu WR (2012) Effect of pores in hollow carbon nanofibers on their negative electrode properties for a lithium rechargeable battery. ACS Appl Mater Interfaces 4:6701–6709
12. Guo JY, Liu JQ, Dai HH, Zhou R, Wang TY, Zhang CC, Ding S, Wang HG (2017) Nitrogen doped carbon nanofiber derived from polypyrrole functionalized polyacrylonitrile for applications in lithium-ion batteries and oxygen reduction reaction. J Colloid Interface Sci 507:154–16110.1016/j.jcis.2017.07.117 ↗
13. Ji LW, Yao YF, Toprakci O, Lin Z, Liang YZ, Shi Q, Medford AJ, Millns CR, Zhang XW (2010) Fabrication of carbon nanofiber-driven electrodes from electrospun polyacrylonitrile/polypyrrole bicomponents for high-performance rechargeable lithium-ion batteries. J Power Sources 195:2050–205610.1016/j.jpowsour.2009.10.021 ↗
14. Miao FJ, Shao CL, Li XH, Wang KX, Liu YC (2016) Flexible solid-state supercapacitors based on freestanding nitrogen-doped porous carbon nanofibers derived from electrospun polyacrylonitrile@polyaniline nanofibers. J Mater Chem A 4:4180–418710.1039/C6TA00015K ↗
15. Qiu YJ, Yu J, Shi TN, Zhou XS, Bai XD, Huang JY (2011) Nitrogen-doped ultrathin carbon nanofibers derived from electrospinning: large-scale production, unique structure, and application as electrocatalysts for oxygen reduction. J Power Sources 196:9862–986710.1016/j.jpowsour.2011.08.013 ↗
16. Wang SG, Dai CL, Li JP, Zhao L, Ren ZH, Ren YQ, Qiu YJ, Yu J (2015) The effect of different nitrogen sources on the electrocatalytic properties of nitrogen-doped electrospun carbon nanofibers for the oxygen reduction reaction. Int J Hydrog Energy 40:4673–468210.1016/j.ijhydene.2015.02.031 ↗
17. Yan XX, Liu KX, Wang T, You Y, Liu JG, Wang P, Pan XQ, Wang GF, Luo J, Zhu J (2017) Atomic interpretation of high activity on transition metal and nitrogen-doped carbon nanofibers for catalyzing oxygen reduction. J Mater Chem A 5:3336–334510.1039/C6TA09462G ↗
18. Liu Q, Cao S, Qiu Y (2017) Effect of carbonization temperature on bimetallic FeCo-N/C nanofiber electrocatalysts for oxygen reduction reaction in sulfuric acid solution. Int J Hydrog Energy 42:29274–2928210.1016/j.ijhydene.2017.10.069 ↗
19. Shang CQ, Li MC, Wang ZY, Wu SF, Lu ZG (2016) Electrospun nitrogen-doped carbon nanofibers encapsulating cobalt nanoparticles as efficient oxygen reduction reaction catalysts. ChemElectroChem 3:1437–144510.1002/celc.201600275 ↗
20. Liu C, Wang J, Li JS, Liu JZ, Wang CH, Sun XY, Shen JY, Han WQ, Wang LJ (2017) Electrospun ZIF-based hierarchical carbon fiber as an efficient electrocatalyst for the oxygen reduction reaction. J Mater Chem A 5:1211–122010.1039/C6TA09193H ↗
21. Qiu YJ, Yu J, Wu WH, Yin J, Bai XD (2013) Fe-N/C nanofiber electrocatalysts with improved activity and stability for oxygen reduction in alkaline and acid solutions. J Solid State Electrochem 17:565–57310.1007/s10008-012-1888-z ↗
22. Guo JX, Niu QJ, Yuan YC, Maitlo I, Nie J, Ma GP (2017) Electrospun core-shell nanofibers derived Fe-S/N doped carbon material for oxygen reduction reaction. Appl Surf Sci 416:118–12310.1016/j.apsusc.2017.04.135 ↗
23. Park J-H, Ju Y-W, Park S-H, Jung H-R, Yang K-S, Lee W-J (2009) Effects of electrospun polyacrylonitrile-based carbon nanofibers as catalyst support in PEMFC. J Appl Electrochem 39:1229–123610.1007/s10800-009-9787-4 ↗
24. Li M, Zhao S, Han G, Yang B (2009) Electrospinning-derived carbon fibrous mats improving the performance of commercial Pt/C for methanol oxidation. J Power Sources 191:351–35610.1016/j.jpowsour.2009.01.089 ↗
25. Guo QH, Zhao D, Liu SW, Chen SL, Hanif M, Hou HQ (2014) Free-standing nitrogen-doped carbon nanotubes at electrospun carbon nanofibers composite as an efficient electrocatalyst for oxygen reduction. Electrochim Acta 138:318–32410.1016/j.electacta.2014.06.120 ↗
26. Mei RG, Xi JJ, Ma L, An L, Wang F, Sun HY, Luo ZK, Wu QX (2017) Multi-scaled porous Fe-N/C nanofibrous catalysts for the cathode electrodes of direct methanol fuel cells. J Electrochem Soc 164:F1556–F156510.1149/2.0451714jes ↗
27. McClure JP, Jiang RZ, Chu D, Fedkiw PS (2014) Oxygen electroreduction on Fe- or Co-containing carbon fibers. Carbon 79:457–46910.1016/j.carbon.2014.08.005 ↗
28. Uhm S, Jeong B, Lee J (2011) A facile route for preparation of non-noble CNF cathode catalysts in alkaline ethanol fuel cells. Electrochim Acta 56:9186–919010.1016/j.electacta.2011.07.108 ↗
29. McClure JP, Devine CK, Jiang RZ, Chu D, Cuomo JJ, Parsons GN, Fedkiw PS (2013) Oxygen electroreduction on Ti- and Fe-containing carbon fibers. J Electrochem Soc 160:F769–F77810.1149/2.029308jes ↗
30. Kim M, Nam DH, Park HY, Kwon C, Eom K, Yoo S, Jang J, Kim HJ, Cho E, Kwon H (2015) Cobalt-carbon nanofibers as an efficient support-free catalyst for oxygen reduction reaction with a systematic study of active site formation. J Mater Chem A 3:14284–1429010.1039/C5TA02031J ↗
31. Yin J, Qiu YJ, Yu J (2013) Onion-like graphitic nanoshell structured Fe-N/C nanofibers derived from electrospinning for oxygen reduction reaction in acid media. Electrochem Commun 30:1–410.1016/j.elecom.2013.01.022 ↗
32. Kim IT, Song MJ, Shin S, Shin MW (2018) Co- and defect-rich carbon nanofiber films as a highly efficient electrocatalyst for oxygen reduction. Appl Surf Sci 435:1159–116710.1016/j.apsusc.2017.11.228 ↗
33. Yin J, Qiu YJ, Yu J (2013) Porous nitrogen-doped carbon nanofibers as highly efficient metal-free electrocatalyst for oxygen reduction reaction. J Electroanal Chem 702:56–5910.1016/j.jelechem.2013.05.013 ↗
34. Liu D, Zhang XP, Sun ZC, You TY (2013) Free-standing nitrogen-doped carbon nanofiber films as highly efficient electrocatalysts for oxygen reduction. Nanoscale 5:9528–953110.1039/c3nr03229a ↗
35. Qiu YJ, Yin J, Hou HW, Yu J, Zuo XB (2013) Preparation of nitrogen-doped carbon submicrotubes by coaxial electrospinning and their electrocatalytic activity for oxygen reduction reaction in acid media. Electrochim Acta 96:225–22910.1016/j.electacta.2013.02.097 ↗
36. Zamani P, Higgins D, Hassan F, Jiang GP, Wu J, Abureden S, Chen ZW (2014) Electrospun iron-polyaniline-polyacrylonitrile derived nanofibers as non-precious oxygen reduction reaction catalysts for PEM fuel cells. Electrochim Acta 139:111–11610.1016/j.electacta.2014.07.007 ↗
37. Deng Z, Yi Q, Li G, Chen Y, Yang X, Nie H (2018) NiCo-doped C-N nano-composites for cathodic catalysts of Zn-air batteries in neutral media. Electrochim Acta 279:1–910.1016/j.electacta.2018.05.069 ↗
38. Sibul R, Kibena-Põldsepp E, Ratso S, Kook M, Käärik M, Merisalu M, Paiste P, Leis J, Sammelselg V, Tammeveski K (2018) Nitrogen-doped carbon-based electrocatalysts synthesised by ball-milling. Electrochem Commun 93:39–4310.1016/j.elecom.2018.05.027 ↗
39. Ratso S, Kruusenberg I, Käärik M, Kook M, Saar R, Pärs M, Leis J, Tammeveski K (2017) Highly efficient nitrogen-doped carbide-derived carbon materials for oxygen reduction reaction in alkaline media. Carbon 113:159–16910.1016/j.carbon.2016.11.037 ↗
40. Ratso S, Kruusenberg I, Joost U, Saar R, Tammeveski K (2016) Enhanced oxygen reduction reaction activity of nitrogen-doped graphene/multi-walled carbon nanotube catalysts in alkaline media. Int J Hydrog Energy 41:22510–2251910.1016/j.ijhydene.2016.02.021 ↗
41. Kruusenberg I, Ratso S, Vikkisk M, Kanninen P, Kallio T, Kannan AM, Tammeveski K (2015) Highly active nitrogen-doped nanocarbon electrocatalysts for alkaline direct methanol fuel cell. J Power Sources 281:94–10210.1016/j.jpowsour.2015.01.167 ↗
42. Vikkisk M, Kruusenberg I, Ratso S, Joost U, Shulga E, Kink I, Rauwel P, Tammeveski K (2015) Enhanced electrocatalytic activity of nitrogen-doped multi-walled carbon nanotubes towards the oxygen reduction reaction in alkaline media. RSC Adv 5:59495–5950510.1039/C5RA08818F ↗
43. Masa J, Zhao A, Xia W, Muhler M, Schuhmann W (2014) Metal-free catalysts for oxygen reduction in alkaline electrolytes: influence of the presence of Co, Fe, Mn and Ni inclusions. Electrochim Acta 128:271–27810.1016/j.electacta.2013.11.026 ↗
44. Yin J, Qiu YJ, Yu J, Zhou XS, Wu WH (2013) Enhancement of electrocatalytic activity for oxygen reduction reaction in alkaline and acid media from electrospun nitrogen-doped carbon nanofibers by surface modification. RSC Adv 3:15655–1566310.1039/c3ra41389f ↗
45. Mooste M, Kibena-Põldsepp E, Matisen L, Merisalu M, Kook M, Kisand V, Vassiljeva V, Krumme A, Sammelselg V, Tammeveski K (2018) Oxygen reduction on catalysts prepared by pyrolysis of electrospun styrene-acrylonitrile copolymer and multi-walled carbon nanotube composite fibres. Catal Lett 148:1815–182610.1007/s10562-018-2392-6 ↗
46. Ratso S, Kruusenberg I, Vikkisk M, Joost U, Shulga E, Kink I, Kallio T, Tammeveski K (2014) Highly active nitrogen-doped few-layer graphene/carbon nanotube composite electrocatalyst for oxygen reduction reaction in alkaline media. Carbon 73:361–37010.1016/j.carbon.2014.02.076 ↗
47. Zhou CF, Liu T, Wang T, Kumar S (2006) PAN/SAN/SWNT ternary composite: pore size control and electrochemical supercapacitor behavior. Polymer 47:5831–583710.1016/j.polymer.2006.06.003 ↗
48. Rahaman MSA, Ismail AF, Mustafa A (2007) A review of heat treatment on polyacrylonitrile fiber. Polym Degrad Stab 92:1421–143210.1016/j.polymdegradstab.2007.03.023 ↗
49. Kabir S, Artyushkova K, Serov A, Kiefer B, Atanassov P (2016) Binding energy shifts for nitrogen-containing graphene-based electrocatalysts - experiments and DFT calculations. Surf Interface Anal 48:293–30010.1002/sia.5935 ↗
50. Igarashi S, Kambe H (1964) Thermogravimetric analysis of styrene-acrylonitrile copolymer. Macromol Chem Phys 79:180–18810.1002/macp.1964.020790117 ↗
51. Zhang BA, Kang FY, Tarascon JM, Kim JK (2016) Recent advances in electrospun carbon nanofibers and their application in electrochemical energy storage. Prog Mater Sci 76:319–38010.1016/j.pmatsci.2015.08.002 ↗
52. Ferrari AC, Robertson J (2000) Interpretation of Raman spectra of disordered and amorphous carbon. Phys Rev B 61:14095–1410710.1103/PhysRevB.61.14095 ↗
53. Wang T (2007) Electrospun carbon nanofibers for electrochemical capacitor electrodes. Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, PhD Thesis
54. Liu KX, Kattel S, Mao V, Wang GF (2016) Electrochemical and computational study of oxygen reduction reaction on nonprecious transition metal/nitrogen doped carbon nanofibers in acid medium. J Phys Chem C 120:1586–159610.1021/acs.jpcc.5b10334 ↗
55. Pels JR, Kapteijn F, Moulijn JA, Zhu Q, Thomas KM (1995) Evolution of nitrogen functionalities in carbonaceous materials during pyrolysis. Carbon 33:1641–165310.1016/0008-6223(95)00154-6 ↗
56. Ramirez-Perez AC, Quilez-Bermejo J, Sieben JM, Morallon E, Cazorla-Amoros D (2018) Effect of nitrogen-functional groups on the ORR activity of activated carbon fiber-polypyrrole-based electrodes. Electrocatalysis 9:697–70510.1007/s12678-018-0478-y ↗
57. Sarapuu A, Samolberg L, Kreek K, Koel M, Matisen L, Tammeveski K (2015) Cobalt- and iron-containing nitrogen-doped carbon aerogels as non-precious metal catalysts for electrochemical reduction of oxygen. J Electroanal Chem 746:9–1710.1016/j.jelechem.2015.03.021 ↗
58. White CM, Banks R, Hamerton I, Watts JF (2016) Characterisation of commercially CVD grown multi-walled carbon nanotubes for paint applications. Prog Org Coat 90:44–5310.1016/j.porgcoat.2015.09.020 ↗
59. Canuto de Almeida e Silva T, Mooste M, Kibena-Põldsepp E, Matisen L, Merisalu M, Kook M, Sammelselg V, Tammeveski K, Wilhelm M, Rezwan K (2019) Polymer-derived Co/Ni–SiOC(N) ceramic electrocatalysts for oxygen reduction reaction in fuel cells. Catal Sci Technol 9:854–86610.1039/C8CY02207K ↗
60. Beguin F, Szostak K, Lota G, Frackowiak E (2005) A self-supporting electrode for supercapacitors prepared by one-step pyrolysis of carbon nanotube/polyacrylonitrile blends. Adv Mater 17:2380–238410.1002/adma.200402103 ↗
61. Jagannathan S, Liu T, Kumar S (2010) Pore size control and electrochemical capacitor behavior of chemically activated polyacrylonitrile—carbon nanotube composite films. Compos Sci Technol 70:593–59810.1016/j.compscitech.2009.12.008 ↗
62. Bard AJ, Faulkner LR (2001) Electrochemical methods: fundamentals and applications, 2nd edn. Wiley, New York
63. Davis RE, Horvath GL, Tobias CW (1967) The solubility and diffusion coefficient of oxygen in potassium hydroxide solutions. Electrochim Acta 12:287–29710.1016/0013-4686(67)80007-0 ↗
64. Lide DR (2001) CRC handbook of chemistry and physics, 82nd edn. CRC Press, Boca Raton
65. Chlistunoff J, Sansinena JM (2016) On the use of Nafion® in electrochemical studies of carbon supported oxygen reduction catalysts in aqueous media. J Electroanal Chem 780:134–14610.1016/j.jelechem.2016.09.014 ↗
66. Daems N, Breugelmans T, Vankelecom IFJ, Pescarmona PP (2018) Influence of the composition and preparation of the rotating disk electrode on the performance of mesoporous electrocatalysts in the alkaline oxygen reduction reaction. ChemElectroChem 5:119–12810.1002/celc.201700907 ↗
67. Lilloja J, Kibena-Põldsepp E, Merisalu M, Rauwel P, Matisen L, Niilisk A, Cardoso E, Maia G, Sammelselg V, Tammeveski K (2016) An oxygen reduction study of graphene-based nanomaterials of different origin. Catalysts 6:10810.3390/catal6070108 ↗
68. Mooste M, Kibena-Põldsepp E, Matisen L, Tammeveski K (2017) Oxygen reduction on anthraquinone diazonium compound derivatised multi-walled carbon nanotube and graphene based electrodes. Electroanalysis 29:548–55810.1002/elan.201600451 ↗
69. Mooste M, Kibena-Põldsepp E, Ossonon BD, Bélanger D, Tammeveski K (2018) Oxygen reduction on graphene sheets functionalised by anthraquinone diazonium compound during electrochemical exfoliation of graphite. Electrochim Acta 267:246–25410.1016/j.electacta.2018.02.064 ↗
70. Sarapuu A, Helstein K, Vaik K, Schiffrin DJ, Tammeveski K (2010) Electrocatalysis of oxygen reduction by quinones adsorbed on highly oriented pyrolytic graphite electrodes. Electrochim Acta 55:6376–638210.1016/j.electacta.2010.06.055 ↗
71. Kibena E, Marandi M, Sammelselg V, Tammeveski K, Jensen BBE, Mortensen AB, Lillethorup M, Kongsfelt M, Pedersen SU, Daasbjerg K (2014) Electrochemical behaviour of HOPG and CVD-grown graphene electrodes modified with thick anthraquinone films by diazonium reduction. Electroanalysis 26:2619–263010.1002/elan.201400290 ↗
72. Vikkisk M, Kruusenberg I, Joost U, Shulga E, Tammeveski K (2013) Electrocatalysis of oxygen reduction on nitrogen-containing multi-walled carbon nanotube modified glassy carbon electrodes. Electrochim Acta 87:709–71610.1016/j.electacta.2012.09.071 ↗
73. Mooste M, Kibena E, Sarapuu A, Matisen L, Tammeveski K (2013) Oxygen reduction on thick anthraquinone films electrografted to glassy carbon. J Electroanal Chem 702:8–1410.1016/j.jelechem.2013.04.031 ↗
74. Liu Q, Cao S, Fu Y, Guo Y, Qiu Y (2018) Trimetallic FeCoNi-N/C nanofibers with high electrocatalytic activity for oxygen reduction reaction in sulfuric acid solution. J Electroanal Chem 813:52–5710.1016/j.jelechem.2018.02.017 ↗
75. Gong Z, Zhang GQ, Wang S (2013) Electrochemical reduction of oxygen on anthraquinone/carbon nanotubes nanohybrid modified glassy carbon electrode in neutral medium. J Chem 2013:75630710.1155/2013/756307 ↗
76. Türk K-K, Kruusenberg I, Mondal J, Rauwel P, Kozlova J, Matisen L, Sammelselg V, Tammeveski K (2015) Oxygen electroreduction on MN4-macrocycle modified graphene/multi-walled carbon nanotube composites. J Electroanal Chem 756:69–7610.1016/j.jelechem.2015.08.014 ↗
77. Wang L, Wong CHA, Kherzi B, Webster RD, Pumera M (2015) So-called “metal-free” oxygen reduction at graphene nanoribbons is in fact metal driven. ChemCatChem 7:1650–165410.1002/cctc.201500262 ↗
78. Tammeveski K, Yu JS, Chen ZW (2018) Non-precious-metal oxygen reduction reaction electrocatalysis. ChemElectroChem 5:1743–174410.1002/celc.201800751 ↗