Virtually metal-free, aligned nitrogen-doped carbon nanotubes (N-CNTs) are prepared by alumina template technique and characterized using XRD, Raman spectroscopy, SEM, and XPS. Highly uniform and aligned nanotubes are identified from SEM. The surface nitrogen concentration in the N-CNTs is estimated to be ca. 8.0 at.%. Electrocatalytic oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) activity in alkali media is investigated by rotating disk electrode (RDE) voltammetry and compared with commercial Pt/C (E-TEK). RDE measurements indicated the comparable ORR activity of nitrogen-doped carbon nanotubes with Pt/C. Kinetic analysis reveals that the ORR on nitrogen-doped carbon nanotubes follows the four-electron pathway leading to water. Moreover, nitrogen-doped carbon nanotubes exhibited substantially higher ethanol tolerance during the ORR than Pt/C. Anion-exchange membrane fuel cell measurements with the N-CNTs as cathode and different anion-exchange membranes are under process and these aspects also will be presented in more detail.

Activity and selectivity of metal-free nitrogen-doped carbon nanotube electrodes for oxygen reduction in alkaline media

243rd National Meeting (2012)

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