Superior Catalytic Performance and Methanol Tolerance of Co@Mesoporous Graphene Nanocomposites toward Oxygen Reduction Reaction

The global energy crisis and growing concerns about environmental pollution have spurred researchers to explore eco-friendly methods of generating clean energy. Previous studies have often relied on noble metal catalysts to facilitate oxygen reduction reactions (ORR) in energy production reactions. However, their high cost has limited their widespread adoption, making the development of highly active and affordable ORR catalysts a significant challenge. In this study, a vacuum heat treatment technique was employed to fabricate a cobalt-loaded mesoporous graphene (Co-Gs) nanocomposite. The inclusion of cobalt in graphene enhances the reaction, while the presence of mesoporous graphene provides a larger surface area to accommodate the active sites of Co. This synergistic effect promotes the improvement of catalytic performance. Additionally, the stability and methanol tolerance of Co-Gs nanocomposites is also superior than that of Pt-C. The excellent catalytic performance of the Co-Gs nanocomposite is attributed to a four-electron pathway within the nanocomposite, as demonstrated by electrocatalytic kinetics investigations. Additionally, the interface interaction between the Co nanoparticles and Gs enhances the efficiency of electron transfer, effectively improving the catalytic performance. These findings highlight the potential of Co-loaded graphene nanocomposites as highly efficient and cost-effective electrocatalysts for clean energy application. Superior catalytic performance of Co@mesoporous graphene nanocomposites toward oxygen reduction reaction is attributed to the four-electron transfer occurring during the reaction. image