Rhodium Nanoflowers on Three-Dimensional Graphitic Carbon Nitride Nanosheets/Graphene Hybrid Aerogels as Electrocatalysts for Methanol Oxidation

Direct methanol fuel cells (DMFCs) are considered as one of efficient energy generation systems, while the high cost and unsatisfactory poison resistance of the anode Pt catalysts largely hampered their widespread applications. In this work, we present the design and construction of flower-shaped Rh crystal-decorated three-dimensional (3D) hybrid aerogels built from graphene and graphitic carbon nitride nanolayers (Rh/G-CN) by means of solvothermal coassembly. Benefitting from the 3D cross-linked porosity, massive exposed active sites, uniform Rh nanoflower distribution, and excellent conductivity, the optimized Rh/G-CN aerogel exhibits a large electrochemically active surface area of 161.7 m(2) g(-1), a high forward peak current density of 701.0 mA mg(-1) and an excellent lifespan for methanol electro-oxidation, which are significantly superior to those properties for Rh particle catalysts deposited on carbon black, carbon nanotubes, graphene, and N-doped graphene matrixes.

Automated summary

In this study, flower-shaped Rh crystal-decorated three-dimensional hybrid aerogels were designed and constructed from graphene and graphitic carbon nitride nanolayers. The optimized Rh/G-CN aerogel showed superior electrochemical performance for methanol electro-oxidation, with large electrochemically active surface area, high forward peak current density, and excellent lifespan compared to traditional Rh particle catalysts on different matrices.