Co3O4 and CDots nanocrystals on g-C3N4 as a synergetic catalyst for oxygen reduction reaction

Abstract

Due to the demand of an efficient, inexpensive and scalable synthesis of an oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) catalyst for practical application in fuel cells, we demonstrate a facile strategy to fabricate the flexible Co3O4-C/C3N4 catalyst. The results show that Co3O4-C/C3N4 exhibits a remarkably enhanced ORR electrocatalytic activity due to the introduction of Co and carbon nanodots (CDots) into the graphitic carbon nitride (g-C3N4) sheet. The electron-transferred number of Co3O4-C/C3N4 toward ORR is calculated to be about 3.69, suggesting a desirable four-electron pathway. Furthermore, Co3O4-C/C3N4 shows better durability and tolerance to methanol crossover effects than the commercial platinum (Pt)/C catalyst, indicating a promising potential as an ORR electrocatalyst in practical applications.