A CoFe2 Alloy-Functionalized Few-Layer Graphene Sheet Nanocomposite as an Electrocatalyst of the Oxygen Reduction Reaction

Searching for a high-efficiency, recycled and cheap catalytic material for oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) is urgently needed in fuel cells. In this study, we successfully fabricated a nanocomposite consisting of CoFe2 alloy functionalized few-layer graphene sheets (CoFe2/FLGs) by employing ferric nitrate, cobalt nitrate, and glucose as precursors. Various measurements conducted in this research confirm that the nanosized CoFe2 alloy particles are evenly dispersed within the FLGs and possess significant magnetism. Electrochemical measurements reveal that the CoFe2/FLGs exhibit a high positive onset potential (0.901 V), follow a four-electron pathway, display a low Tafel slope (77.21 mV/dec), possess a low charge-transfer resistance (similar to 72 Omega), and exhibit strong methanol tolerance. Consequently, the resulting CoFe2/FLGs nanocomposite demonstrates excellent electrocatalytic performance and recyclability for the ORR, positioning it as a promising catalyst for fuel cells.