Metal-Carbon Composites Based on Carbonized Melamine-Formaldehyde Polymer and Their Electrocatalytic Properties

• Published in: Russian journal of electrochemistry Vol. 58; no. 10; pp. 946 - 956
• Main Authors: Ivanova, N. M., Muldakhmetov, Z. M., Soboleva, E. A., Visurkhanova, Ya. A., Zhivotova, T. S.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Moscow Pleiades Publishing 01.10.2022; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Acetophenone; Cations; Chemical reduction; Chemistry; Chemistry and Materials Science; Cobalt; Composite materials; Copper; Electrochemistry; Formaldehyde; Heat treatment; Melamine; Metal oxides; Physical Chemistry; Polymers; Reduction (metal working); Synthesis; acetophenone; melamine-formaldehyde polymer; thermal treatment; electrocatalysts; electrocatalytic activity; metal-carbon composites; chemical and electrochemical reduction of metal cations
• ISSN: 1023-1935; 1608-3342
• DOI: 10.1134/S1023193522100056

Metal/N-doped carbon (M/C–N) composites were prepared using the melamine-formaldehyde polymer (MFP) as a source of C–N carbon and a metal salt (Cu 2+ , Ni 2+ , Co 2+ ) by two synthesis methods: ( 1 ) introduction of a metal salt by in situ polycondensation of melamine with formaldehyde followed by thermal treatment at 400, 500, and 700°C and ( 2 ) chemical reduction of metal cations in the presence of carbonized MFP. The phase compositions and morphology of the resulting composites were analyzed by X-ray diffractometry and electron microscopy. Their electrocatalytic properties were studied in the electrohydrogenation of acetophenone. The Cu/C–N composites prepared by method 2 showed higher electrocatalytic activity due to the additional reduction of copper cations in the electrochemical system. The synthesis of composites by method 1 and their thermal treatment led to the formation of metal oxides and their reduced forms, lying mostly inside the carbon matrix of the carbonized MFP.