Issue 9, 2010

Nanocomposite oxygenreduction electrocatalysts formed using bioderived reducing agents

Abstract

Crystalline cellulose nanofibrils from cotton were used as reducing agents for the synthesis of nanostructured silver. The hydrothermal synthesis involved heating an AgNO3 solution containing suspended cellulose nanofibrils at 80 °C for 2 h. The formation of metallic silver was verified using UV/Visible spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Cellulose/silver nanocomposite films were formed at glassy carbon surfaces by drop coating with the product suspension and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was used to characterise the modified surfaces. The film morphology depended on the ratio of silver to cellulose in the films. Cyclic voltammetry and rotating-disk electrode voltammetry were used to study the electrochemical and electrocatalytic behavior of these films. The nanocomposite films formed using this approach were highly active electrocatalysts for the reduction of oxygen in alkaline media.

Graphical abstract: Nanocomposite oxygen reduction electrocatalysts formed using bioderived reducing agents

Supplementary files

Article information

Article type
Paper
Submitted
27 Oct 2009
Accepted
14 Dec 2009
First published
12 Jan 2010

J. Mater. Chem., 2010,20, 1737-1743

Nanocomposite oxygen reduction electrocatalysts formed using bioderived reducing agents

L. Johnson, W. Thielemans and D. A. Walsh, J. Mater. Chem., 2010, 20, 1737 DOI: 10.1039/B922423H

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