Blood Ties: Co3O4 Decorated Blood Derived Carbon as a Superior Bifunctional Electrocatalyst

A simple, versatile and cheap synthetic route is demonstrated for the preparation of Co3O4 decorated blood powder derived heteroatom doped porous carbon (BDHC). The inorganic hybrid performs well as an advanced bifunctional non-precious metal electrocatalyst. The hybridization of Co3O4 with the blood-derived carbon results in improved activities not only towards the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR), but also in the reverse oxygen evolution reaction (OER). An improved ORR activity and a tuned four electron transfer selectivity can be assigned to a synergistic catalytic effect due the intimate contact between Co3O4 particles and the highly conductive heteroatom doped carbon support, mediated by cobalt-nitrogen or cobalt-phosphorous coordination sites. This heterojunction may facilitate the electron transfer by preventing an accumulation of electron density within the Co3O4 particles. The straight-forward and cheap synthesis of the highly active and durable electrocatalyst make it a promising candidate for a next-generation bifunctional electrocatalyst for applications such as reversible fuel cells/electrolyzers or metal air batteries.