A PROCESS FOR THE PREPARATION OF NITROGEN DOPED CARBON NANOHORNS FOR OXYGEN REDUCTION ELECTROCATALYSIS

• US 20160240861A1
• Filed: 10/22/2014
• Published: 08/18/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 10/25/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Council of Scientific & Industrial Research
• Original Assignee: Council of Scientific & Industrial Research
• Inventors: MARAVEEDU UNNI, Sreekuttan, RAMADAS, Sarath, KURUNGOT, Sreekumar
• Granted Patent: US 10,218,006 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B82Y 40/00 Manufacture or treatment of nanostructures
• CPC Class Codes: C01B 32/15 Nano-sized carbon materials
• CPC Class Codes: C01B 32/18 Nanoonions; Nanoscrolls; Nanohorns; Nanocones; Nanowalls
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 4/8882 Heat treatment, e.g. drying, baking
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 4/9091 Unsupported catalytic particles; loose particulate catalytic materials, e.g. in fluidised state
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/50 Fuel cells

Abstract

Nitrogen doped carbon nanohorns function as efficient metal-free oxygen reduction electrocatalysts for anion exchange membrane fuel cells. The disclosure relates to a process for the preparation of nitrogen doped carbon nanohorns with enhanced conductivity and improved surface area.

Claims

1. A process for the preparation of nitrogen doped carbon nanohorns with enhanced conductivity and improved surface area comprising following steps:

pre-treating the carbon nanohorns;

annealing the carbon nanohorns of step (a) in the presence of a nitrogen source at 500-1200°

C. for 1-3 hours.

2. The process according to claim 1, wherein the carbon nanohorns are single walled carbon nanohorns.

3. The process according to claim 1, wherein the nitrogen source is selected from the group consisting of urea and melamine.

4. The process according to claim 1, wherein the nitrogen doped carbon nanohorns are optionally co-doped with a metal selected from the group consisting of Fe and Co.

5. The process according to claim 1, wherein the pre-treating of the carbon nanohorns results in functionalization of the carbon nanohorns.

6. The process according to claim 5, wherein the functionalization is carried out using hydrogen peroxide.

7. The process according to claim 1, wherein a surface area of nitrogen doped carbon nanohorns ranges from 300 to 1500 m² g⁻

1.

8. The process according to claim 1, wherein a conductivity of the nitrogen doped carbon nanohorns is in the range of 5-9 S cm⁻

1.

9. Nitrogen doped carbon nanohorns having surface area in the range of 300 to 1500 m² g⁻

1 and conductivity in the range of 5-9 S cm<sup>−

1</sup>, prepared by the method according to claim 1.

10. A method of conducting an oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) comprising obtaining nitrogen doped carbon nanohorns according to claim 9.