Cobalt-containing nanoparticles embedded in flexible carbon aerogel for spilled oil cleanup and oxygen reduction reaction

To address the global environmental and energy issues, creating multi-functional, effective and lightweight carbon materials as catalysts and adsorbents is of significant importance. Here, ultralow, hydrophobic, super-paramagnetic and compressible Co-doped carbon aerogel (CCA) was fabricated by pyrolyzing precursor, namely cobaltiferous resorcinol-formaldehyde/graphene (RFG-Co) composite aerogel obtained through a low-temperature and scale-up hydrothermal process. Due to its outstanding structural features, such aerogel can serve as a good adsorbent for various organic pollutants, with a maximum adsorption capacity of 132 times its own weights as well as excellent recyclability for long lifetime. Besides, the presence of Co-containing nanoparticles on the sheets of the aerogel also endows CCA remarkable electrocatalytic performance toward oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) (onset potential: -0.15 V, half-wave potential: -0.243 V). This work offers a cost-effective strategy to produce multifunctional three-dimensional macroscopic carbon-based material with promising application in both environment and energy fields.