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Title: Facile synthesis of C 60 -nano materials and their application in high-performance water splitting electrocatalysis
Here, we report the synthesis and characterization of crystalline C 60 nanomaterials and their applications as bifunctional water splitting catalysts. The shapes of the resulting materials were tuned via a solvent engineering approach to form rhombic-shaped nanosheets and nanotubes with hexagonal close packed-crystal structures. The as-synthesized materials exhibited suitable properties as bifunctional catalysts for HER and ORR reactions surpassing by far the electrocatalytic activity of commercially available amorphous C 60 . The C 60 nanotubes displayed the most efficient catalytic performance with a small onset potential of −0.13 V vs. RHE and ultrahigh electrochemical stability properties towards the generation of molecular hydrogen. Additionally, the rotating-disk electrode measurements revealed that the oxygen reduction mechanism at the nanotube electrochemical surfaces followed an effective four-electron pathway. The improved catalytic activity was attributed to the enhanced local electric fields at the high curvature surfaces.  more » « less
Award ID(s):
1801317
PAR ID:
10172706
Author(s) / Creator(s):
; ; ; ; ;
Date Published:
Journal Name:
Sustainable Energy & Fuels
Volume:
4
Issue:
6
ISSN:
2398-4902
Page Range / eLocation ID:
2900 to 2906
Format(s):
Medium: X
Sponsoring Org:
National Science Foundation
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