Carbon Nanodot Surface Modifications Initiate Highly Efficient, Stable Catalysts for Both Oxygen Evolution and Reduction Reactions

Efficient, stable, and low-cost electrocatalysts for the oxygen evolution and reduction reactions (OER and ORR) are essential components of energy conversion. Although much progress has been achieved in the development of platinum-based electrocatalysts for ORR and iridium-based electrocatalysts for OER, they are still not yet viable for large-scale commercialization because of the high cost and scanty supply of the noble metals. Here, it is demonstrated that carbon nanodots surface-modified with either phosphorus or amidogen can respectively achieve electrocatalytic activity approaching that of the benchmark Pt/C and IrO2/C catalysts for ORR and OER. Furthermore, phosphorus (amidogen)-modified carbon nanodots with attached Au nanoparticles exhibit superior ORR (OER) activity better than commercial Pt/C (IrO2/C) catalysts as well as excellent electrochemical stability under visible light.