Oxygen Reduction on Catalysts Prepared by Pyrolysis of Electrospun Styrene–Acrylonitrile Copolymer and Multi-walled Carbon Nanotube Composite Fibres

• Published in: Catalysis letters Vol. 148; no. 7; pp. 1815 - 1826
• Main Authors: Mooste, Marek, Kibena-Põldsepp, Elo, Matisen, Leonard, Merisalu, Maido, Kook, Mati, Kisand, Vambola, Vassiljeva, Viktoria, Krumme, Andres, Sammelselg, Väino, Tammeveski, Kaido
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York Springer US 01.07.2018; Springer; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Acrylonitrile; Catalysis; Catalysts; Chemistry; Chemistry and Materials Science; Copolymers; Electrodes; Electrospinning; Industrial Chemistry/Chemical Engineering; Multi wall carbon nanotubes; Nanotubes; Organometallic Chemistry; Oxygen reduction reactions; Photoelectrons; Physical Chemistry; Pyrolysis; Rotating disks; Rotation; Styrene acrylonitrile resins; Styrenes; X-ray spectroscopy; Carbon nanotubes; Electrospinning; Oxygen reduction; Electrocatalysis; Non-precious metal catalyst; Composite catalyst
• ISSN: 1011-372X; 1572-879X
• DOI: 10.1007/s10562-018-2392-6

For the first time, the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) is studied on pyrolysed electrospun multi-walled carbon nanotube (MWCNT) and styrene–acrylonitrile (SAN) composite fibre catalysts in alkaline medium. Scanning electron microscopy images revealed that the prepared catalysts mainly consist of MWCNTs, while nitrogen doping of the catalysts is confirmed by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. This indicates that SAN can be used as a nitrogen precursor. The ORR studies carried out by rotating disc electrode (RDE) and rotating ring-disc electrode (RRDE) methods showed that the prepared catalysts were considerably more active towards the ORR than the pristine MWCNTs. Graphical Abstract