Wang Qiannan, Wang Likai, Tang Zhenghua, Wang Fucai, Yan Wei, Yang Hongyu, Zhou Weijia, Li Ligui, Kang Xiongwu, Chen Shaowei
New Energy Research Institute, School of Environment and Energy, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou Higher Education Mega Centre, Guangzhou, 510006, P. R. China.
Zijin Mining Group Co. Ltd, Shanghang, Fujian 364200, P. R. China.
Nanoscale. 2016 Mar 28;8(12):6629-35. doi: 10.1039/c6nr00400h.
Nanocomposites based on p-mercaptobenzoic acid-functionalized gold nanoclusters, Au102(p-MBA)44, and porous carbon nanosheets have been fabricated and employed as highly efficient electrocatalysts for oxygen reduction reaction (ORR). Au102(p-MBA)44 clusters were synthesized via a wet chemical approach, and loaded onto carbon nanosheets. Pyrolysis at elevated temperatures led to effective removal of the thiolate ligands and the formation of uniform nanoparticles supported on the carbon scaffolds. The nanocomposite structures were characterized by using a wide range of experimental techniques such as transmission electron microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, UV-visible absorption spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis and BET nitrogen adsorption/desorption. Electrochemical studies showed that the composites demonstrated apparent ORR activity in alkaline media, and the sample with a 30% Au mass loading was identified as the best catalyst among the series, with a performance comparable to that of commercial Pt/C, but superior to those of Au102 nanoclusters and carbon nanosheets alone, within the context of onset potential, kinetic current density, and durability. The results suggest an effective approach to the preparation of high-performance ORR catalysts based on gold nanoclusters supported on carbon nanosheets.
基于对巯基苯甲酸功能化金纳米团簇（Au102(p-MBA)44）和多孔碳纳米片的纳米复合材料已被制备出来，并用作氧还原反应（ORR）的高效电催化剂。Au102(p-MBA)44团簇通过湿化学方法合成，并负载在碳纳米片上。高温热解导致硫醇盐配体有效去除，并在碳支架上形成均匀的纳米颗粒。使用多种实验技术对纳米复合结构进行了表征，如透射电子显微镜、扫描电子显微镜、X射线光电子能谱、X射线衍射、紫外可见吸收光谱、热重分析和BET氮吸附/脱附。电化学研究表明，该复合材料在碱性介质中表现出明显的ORR活性，在起始电位、动力学电流密度和耐久性方面，30%金质量负载的样品被确定为该系列中最佳的催化剂，其性能与商业Pt/C相当，但优于单独的Au102纳米团簇和碳纳米片。结果表明了一种基于负载在碳纳米片上的金纳米团簇制备高性能ORR催化剂的有效方法。
