Flaky Co 3 O 4 /BCNO composites as efficient and stable catalysts for the oxygen reduction reaction

• Published in: New journal of chemistry Vol. 47; no. 21; pp. 10255 - 10264
• Main Authors: Zhang, Yintao, Zang, Zehao, Li, Xiang, Yang, Ping, Zhang, Junfang, Li, Lanlan, Yu, Xiaofei, Yang, Xiaojing, Lu, Zunming, Zhang, Xinghua
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: 30.05.2023
• ISSN: 1144-0546; 1369-9261
• DOI: 10.1039/D3NJ01204B

Much effort has been devoted to developing efficient, stable, and low-cost catalysts for the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR). Herein, we prepared flaky Co 3 O 4 /BCNO composites as efficient ORR catalysts with one step of the precursor sintering method. BCNO nanosheets were obtained by doping C and O elements into hexagonal boron nitride. They can effectively prevent the agglomeration of Co 3 O 4 and stimulate the catalytic activity through electronic interactions. The half-wave potential of the Co 3 O 4 /BCNO catalyst can be up to 0.84 V ( vs. RHE) which is superior to those of Co 3 O 4 and commercial Pt/C (20%). The Co 3 O 4 /BCNO composite has a faster kinetic reaction rate with a Tafel slope of 44.9 mV dec −1 , which is lower than those of Pt/C (91.85 mV dec −1 ) and Co 3 O 4 (82.6 mV dec −1 ). The Co 3 O 4 /BCNO composite catalyst also has excellent stability and good methanol tolerance. The Co 3 O 4 /BCNO composite-based Zn–air battery exhibits high power density and specific capacity.