Biomass-derived Graphene-like Catalyst Material for Oxygen Reduction Reaction

A novel and sustainable method was established to prepare a nitrogen doped graphene-like material from a renewable, secondary raw material with potential application in the catalysis of oxygen reduction reaction (ORR). Alder wood char was used as a precursor material for producing a sustainable graphene-like carbon catalyst for the ORR. Alder wood char was first activated (AWC) and then doped with nitrogen (N-AWC). The graphene-like structure was confirmed using transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and Raman spectroscopy. Electrochemical characterization was carried out in 0.1 M KOH, showing that in alkaline media the ORR activity of the N-doped wood char-based graphene-like material is superior compared to non-sustainable commercial N-doped graphene. The onset potential of the ORR on N-AWC was shifted to positive direction by 75 mV in comparison to the commercially available nitrogen-doped graphene and the half-wave potential was shifted even by 239 mV. This renewable biomass-derived graphene-like carbon catalyst shows a great potential alternative to current synthetic graphite, graphene nanoplatelets and graphene materials in areas such as fuel cells and batteries.