Transition metal-containing nitrogen-doped nanocarbon catalysts derived from 5-methylresorcinol for anion exchange membrane fuel cell application

Kaarel Kisand; Ave Sarapuu; Dmytro Danilian; Arvo Kikas; Vambola Kisand; Mihkel Rähn; Alexey Treshchalov; Maike Käärik; Maido Merisalu; Päärn Paiste; Jaan Aruväli; Jaan Leis; Väino Sammelselg; Steven Holdcroft; Kaido Tammeveski

doi:10.1016/j.jcis.2020.09.114

Transition metal-containing nitrogen-doped nanocarbon catalysts derived from 5-methylresorcinol for anion exchange membrane fuel cell application

J Colloid Interface Sci. 2021 Feb 15:584:263-274. doi: 10.1016/j.jcis.2020.09.114. Epub 2020 Oct 6.

Authors

Affiliations

¹ Institute of Chemistry, University of Tartu, Ravila 14a, 50411 Tartu, Estonia.
² Institute of Physics, University of Tartu, W. Ostwald Str. 1, 50411 Tartu, Estonia.
³ Institute of Ecology and Earth Sciences, University of Tartu, Vanemuise 46, 51014 Tartu, Estonia; School of Engineering, Department of Energy Technology, Tallinn University of Technology, Ehitajate tee 5, 19086 Tallinn, Estonia.
⁴ Institute of Ecology and Earth Sciences, University of Tartu, Vanemuise 46, 51014 Tartu, Estonia.
⁵ Institute of Chemistry, University of Tartu, Ravila 14a, 50411 Tartu, Estonia; Institute of Physics, University of Tartu, W. Ostwald Str. 1, 50411 Tartu, Estonia.
⁶ Department of Chemistry, Simon Fraser University, 8888 University Drive, Burnaby, BC V5A 1S6, Canada.
⁷ Institute of Chemistry, University of Tartu, Ravila 14a, 50411 Tartu, Estonia. Electronic address: kaido.tammeveski@ut.ee.

PMID: 33069025
DOI: 10.1016/j.jcis.2020.09.114

Abstract

Highly active electrocatalysts for electrochemical oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) were prepared by high-temperature pyrolysis from 5-methylresorcinol, Co and/or Fe salts and dicyandiamide, which acts simultaneously as a precursor for reactive carbonitride template and a nitrogen source. The electrocatalytic activity of the catalysts for ORR in alkaline solution was studied using the rotating disc electrode (RDE) method. The bimetallic catalyst containing iron and cobalt (FeCoNC-at) showed excellent stability and remarkable ORR performance, comparable to that of commercial Pt/C (20 wt%). The superior activity was attributed to high surface metal and nitrogen contents. The FeCoNC-at catalyst was further tested in anion exchange membrane fuel cell (AEMFC) with poly-(hexamethyl-p-terphenylbenzimidazolium) (HMT-PMBI) membrane, where a high value of peak power density (P_max = 415 mW cm^-2) was achieved.

Keywords: Alkaline membrane fuel cell; Carbonitride template; Electrocatalysis; MNC catalysts; Non-precious metal catalysts; Oxygen reduction.