Synthesis and catalysis of copper sulfide/carbon nanodots for oxygen reduction in direct methanol fuel cells

Authors: Zih-Yu Shih, Arun Prakash Periasamy, Pin-Che Hsu, Huan-Tsung Chang

Abstract:
We have fabricated Cu_2−xS/carbon nanodot (C dot) electrodes for direct methanol fuel cells (DMFCs). To the best of our knowledge, this is the first time that Cu_2−xS/C dot nanomaterials (NMs) were proposed to be used as a cathode catalyst for oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) in acidic media. The structural characterizations revealed that Cu2−xS alloy possessed two types of crystalline phases, such as Cu₉S₅ and Cu₂S in the structure of Cu_2−xS/C dot NMs. The onset potential of the ORR for Cu_2−xS/C dot NMs is 0.92V (vs. Ag/AgCl), revealing a good ORR activity of these NMs. The Cu_2−xS/C dot electrodes (mass loading: 2.26 mg cm⁻²) provide a mean limiting density of −1.77 mAcm⁻² at a scan rate of 5 mVs−1 and rotation rate of 3600 rpm. Electrochemical impedance spectrometry (EIS) results revealed that the charge-transfer resistance (Rct) of the Cu_2−xS/C dots was smaller than that of Cu_2−xS/CNT. In addition, compared with Pt/C electrodes, Cu_2−xS/C dot electrodes were more tolerant against MeOH poisoning. The low-cost, electrochemically stable, and highly active Cu_2−xS/C dot electrode has great potential for use in DMFCs.

Keywords:
Carbon nanodots
Cathode catalyst
Cu_2−xS Fuel cells
Oxygen reduction reaction

Published in: Applied Catalysis B: Environmental (Volumes 132–133, Pages 1-552, 27 March 2013)

Publisher: Elsevier  

ISSN Information: 0926-3373

Synthesis and catalysis of copper sulfide/carbon nanodots for oxygen reduction in direct methanol fuel cells

Bình luận của bạn

*

*

*

*

 Captcha

Gửi bình luận nhập lại