Hybrids of Reduced Graphene Oxide Aerogel and CNT for Electrochemical O2 Reduction

Carbon nanotubes (CNTs), graphene aerogels (GAs), and their hybrid (CNT-GA) prepared by hydrothermal treatment were tested in the electrocatalytic oxygen reduction reaction (ORR). The importance of porous structure derived from combination mesoporosity coming CNTs with macroporosity stemming GAs was evidenced because carbon material exhibited synergistic performance terms kinetic current onset potential. Different electrocatalysts based on these hybrids doped nitrogen using different precursors also supporting Fe nanoparticles. N-doped showed higher activity than undoped counterparts. Nevertheless, both materials provided a mixed two four electron reduction. On other hand, addition precursor phenanthroline to CNT-GA allowed preparing an containing nanoparticles which favored 4-electron water, thus being excellent candidate as structured cathode fuel cells.