Co9S8 Nanoparticles Incorporated in Hierarchically Porous 3D Few-Layer Graphene-Like Carbon with S,N-Doping as Superior Electrocatalyst for Oxygen Reduction Reaction

Electrochemical oxygen reduction reaction (ORR), using nonprecious metal catalysts, has attracted great attention due to the importance in renewable energy technologies, such as fuel cells and metal-air batteries. A simple and scalable synthetic route is demonstrated for the preparation of a novel 3D hybrid nanocatalyst consisting of Co9S8 nanoparticles which are incorporated in N, S-doped carbon (N, S-C) with rational structure design. In particular, the hybrid catalyst is prepared by direct pyrolysis and calcination of a gel mixture of Mg, Co nitrate-thiourea-glycine under Ar atmosphere, with subsequent HCl washing. The properties of obtained hybrid catalyst are quite dependent on calcination temperature and added glycine amount. Under a molar ratio of Co5-Mg15-tu10-gl45 and a calcination temperature of 900 degrees C, Co9S8 nanoparticles are embedded in a well-developed carbon matrix which shows a porous 3D few-layer graphene-like N, S-C with open and hierarchical micro-meso-macro pore structure. Because of the synergistic effect between Co9S8 nanoparticles and well-developed carbon support, the composite exhibits high ORR activity close to that of commercial Pt/C catalyst. More importantly, the composite displays superior long-term stability and good tolerance against methanol. The strategy developed here provides a novel and efficient approach to prepare a cost-effective and highly active ORR electrocatalyst.