Issue 2, 2015

A metal–organic framework route to in situ encapsulation of Co@Co3O4@C core@bishell nanoparticles into a highly ordered porous carbon matrix for oxygen reduction

Abstract

Rational design of non-noble metal catalysts with an electrocatalytic activity comparable or even superior to Pt is extremely important for future fuel cell-based renewable energy devices. Herein, we demonstrate a new concept that a metal–organic framework (MOF) can be used as a novel precursor to in situ encapsulate Co@Co3O4@C core@bishell nanoparticles (NPs) into a highly ordered porous carbon matrix (CM) (denoted as Co@Co3O4@C–CM). The central cobalt ions from the MOF are used as a metal source to produce Co metal cores, which are later transformed into a fancy Co@Co3O4 nanostructure via a controlled oxidation. The most notable feature of our Co@Co3O4@C–CM is that the highly ordered CM can provide much better transport pathways than the disordered pure MOF derived nanostructure that can facilitate the mass transport of O2 and an electrolyte. As a result, the well-designed Co@Co3O4@C–CM derived from the MOF shows almost identical activity but superior stability and methanol tolerance for the ORR relative to the commercial Pt/C in alkaline medium. Our work reports a novel Co@Co3O4@C nanostructure from a MOF for the first time and also reveals the important role of the introduction of a highly ordered carbon matrix into the MOF derived catalyst in enhancing the ORR activity and stability. To the best of our knowledge, the Co@Co3O4@C–CM is the most efficient non-noble metal nanocatalyst ever reported for the ORR.

Graphical abstract: A metal–organic framework route to in situ encapsulation of Co@Co3O4@C core@bishell nanoparticles into a highly ordered porous carbon matrix for oxygen reduction

Supplementary files

Article information

Article type
Paper
Submitted
20 Jul 2014
Accepted
13 Nov 2014
First published
13 Nov 2014

Energy Environ. Sci., 2015,8, 568-576

Author version available

A metal–organic framework route to in situ encapsulation of Co@Co3O4@C core@bishell nanoparticles into a highly ordered porous carbon matrix for oxygen reduction

W. Xia, R. Zou, L. An, D. Xia and S. Guo, Energy Environ. Sci., 2015, 8, 568 DOI: 10.1039/C4EE02281E

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