Enhanced Hydrogen Evolution Catalytic Activity of Cobalt-embedded Carbon Nanotubes by Thermal Vacuum Activation†

doi:10.7503/cjcu20170715

Abstract

Abstract:

Cobalt-embedded carbon nanotubes with high catalytic activity were prepared by a facile thermal vacuum activation method. After the vacuum activation, intrinsic carbonaceous defects of the cobalt-embedded carbon nanotubes increased, resulting in greatly improved catalytic activity(>7-fold). The characterizations of high resolution transmission electron microscopy(HRTEM), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy(XPS) and Raman spectroscopy revealed that the thermal vacuum post-treatment can lead to a great amount of intrinsic carbonaceous defects, which further relates to more catalytically active sites and thus enhances the interfacial electron-transfer properties, resulting in improved catalytic activity.

Key words: Carbon nanotubes, Cobalt nanoparticles, Electrocatalysis, Water splitting

CLC Number:

O646

TrendMD:

ZOU Jiayun, LIU Yipu, CHEN Hui, LI Guodong. Enhanced Hydrogen Evolution Catalytic Activity of Cobalt-embedded Carbon Nanotubes by Thermal Vacuum Activation^†[J]. Chem. J. Chinese Universities, 2018, 39(6): 1249.

Figures/Tables 7

Fig.1 XRD patterns of Co/CNT(a) and Co/CNT-V800(b)

Fig.2 SEM images of Co/CNT(A) and Co/CNT-800(D), TEM image of Co/CNT(B) and HRTEM images of Co/CNT(C), Co/CNT-V800(E) and Co/CNT-N800(F)

Fig.3 N/C and O/C atomic ratios in Co/CNT, Co/CNT-V800, Co/CNT-N800(A) and Raman spectra of Co/CNT(a), Co/CNT-V800(b) and Co/CNT-N800(c)(B)

Fig.4 Polarization curves(A) and overpotential at 10 mA/cm2(B) of Co/CNT treated at different temperature(500—1000 ℃) by thermal vacuum activation and untreated Co/CNT

Fig.5 Polarization curves of Co/CNT(a), Co/CNT-N800(b) and Co/CNT-V800(c) in 0.5 mol/L H2SO4(A) and polarization curves of Co/CNT-V800 in 0.5 mol/L H2SO4 before and after 1000, 3000 and 5000 cyclesj-t curve of Co/CNT-800 at η=97 mV for 35 h is shown in the inset of (B).

Fig.6 Schematic illustration of the change of microstructure before and after thermal vacuum activation

Fig.7 Difference of current density between the sweeps versus scan rate of Co/CNT(a) and Co/CNT-V800(b)(A) and Nyquist plots of Co/CNT(a) and Co/CNT-V800(b)(B) The slope of the ftting line is used for determination of the double-layer capacitance(Cdl).

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