AUTHOR=Aghabarari B. , Martínez-Huerta M. V. , Capel-Sánchez M. C. , Lázaro M. J. 

TITLE=Non-precious Melamine/Chitosan Composites for the Oxygen Reduction Reaction: Effect of the Transition Metal

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Materials

VOLUME=7

YEAR=2020

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/materials/articles/10.3389/fmats.2020.578518

DOI=10.3389/fmats.2020.578518

ISSN=2296-8016

ABSTRACT=<p>The development of active and low-cost electrocatalysts for the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) is crucial for the sustainable commercialization of fuel cell technologies. In this study, we have synthetized Me/Mo<sub>2</sub>C (Me = Fe, Co, Cu)-based composites embedded in N- and P-dual doped carbon by means of inexpensive industrial materials, such as melamine and chitosan, as C and N sources, and the heteropolyacid H<sub>3</sub>PMo<sub>12</sub>O<sub>40</sub> as P and Mo precursor. The effect of the transition metal (Fe, Co, and Cu) on the ORR in alkaline medium has been investigated. The physicochemical properties of the electrocatalysts were performed by X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), Raman spectroscopy, and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Activity towards ORR was carried out in a three-electrode cell using a ring-disk electrode in 0.1M NaOH. The results obtained clearly show the important role played by each transition metal (Fe, Co, and Cu) in the electrochemical activity. Among them, Fe gives rise to the best performing composite in carrying out the oxygen reduction reaction. The formation Fe<sub>3</sub>C/Mo<sub>2</sub>C species embedded in N- and P-dual doped carbon seems to be the determining role in the increase of the ORR performance.</p>