Synergistically enhanced electrocatalytic performance of an N-doped graphene quantum dot-decorated 3D MoS2–graphene nanohybrid for oxygen reduction reaction.

Vinoth, Ramalingam; Patil, Indrajit M.; Pandikumar, Alagarsamy; Kakade, Bhalchandra A.; Huang, Nay Ming; Dionysios, Dionysiou D.; Neppolian, Bernaurdshaw

Abstract

Nitrogen-doped graphene quantum dots (N-GQDs) were decorated on a three-dimensional (3D) MoS2–reduced graphene oxide (rGO) framework via a facile hydrothermal method. The distribution of N-GQDs on the 3D MoS2–rGO framework was confirmed using X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, energy dispersive X-ray elemental mapping and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy techniques. The resultant 3D nanohybrid was successfully demonstrated as an efficient electrocatalyst toward the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) under alkaline conditions. The chemical interaction between the electroactive N-GQDs and MoS2–rGO and the increased surface area and pore size of the N-GQDs/MoS2–rGO nanohybrid synergistically improved the ORR onset potential to +0.81 V vs reversible hydrogen electrode (RHE). Moreover, the N-GQDs/MoS2–rGO nanohybrid showed better ORR stability for up to 3000 cycles with negligible deviation in the half-wave potential (E1/2). Most importantly, the N-GQDs/MoS2–rGO nanohybrid exhibited a superior methanol tolerance ability even under a high concentration of methanol (3.0 M) in alkaline medium. Hence, the development of a low-cost metal-free graphene quantum dot-based 3D nanohybrid with high methanol tolerance may open up a novel strategy to design selective cathode electrocatalysts for direct methanol fuel cell applications.

Citation

VINOTH, R., PATIL, I.M., PANDIKUMAR, A., KAKADE, B.A., HUANG, N.M., DIONYSIOS, D.D. and NEPPOLIAN, B. 2016. Synergistically enhanced electrocatalytic performance of an N-doped graphene quantum dot-decorated 3D MoS2–graphene nanohybrid for oxygen reduction reaction. ACS omega [online], 1(5), pages 971-980. Available from: https://doi.org/10.1021/acsomega.6b00275

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Oct 31, 2016
• Online Publication Date: Nov 18, 2016
• Publication Date: Nov 30, 2016
• Deposit Date: Oct 24, 2023
• Publicly Available Date: Jan 15, 2024
• Journal: ACS omega
• Electronic ISSN: 2470-1343
• Publisher: American Chemical Society
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 1
• Issue: 5
• Pages: 971-980
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1021/acsomega.6b00275
• Keywords: Electrocatalysts; Oxygen reduction; Fuel cells; Methanol
• Public URL: https://rgu-repository.worktribe.com/output/2120580
• Additional Information: The supplementary information published alongside this article has been incorporated at the end of the file attached to this repository record.