Graphitic carbon nitride nanosheet supported high loading silver nanoparticle catalysts for the oxygen reduction reaction

Abstract Ag/graphitic carbon nitride (Ag/g-C 3 N 4 ) catalysts with high loading Ag are prepared using g-C 3 N 4 by protonation. Ag + can combine with Cl − on the surface of g-C 3 N 4 nanosheet by protonation and further deoxidize by sodium citrate. It contributes to well disperse Ag nanoparticles on the surface of g-C 3 N 4 . In addition, Ag/g-C 3 N 4 catalysts are also used for the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) in alkaline solution. Compared with g-C 3 N 4 and g-C 3 N 4 –H + Cl − , the Ag/g-C 3 N 4 catalysts with 80 wt% Ag show excellent catalytic activity for ORR. The proposed catalyst is promising, facile and low-cost, and can be a potential candidate for application in alkaline fuel cells.