Efficient electrode material is crucial for energy conversion from renewable sources such as solar electricity. We present a method for preparation of carbon nanotubes （CNTs） with zeolitic imidazolate frameworks （Z...Efficient electrode material is crucial for energy conversion from renewable sources such as solar electricity. We present a method for preparation of carbon nanotubes （CNTs） with zeolitic imidazolate frameworks （ZIFs, e.g., ZIF-8） via an in situ pyrolysis process. The resultant materials are completely new carbon composites with desirable hierarchical porosity and nitrogen-doped features. Electron microscopy images show that CNTs with small external diameters enable more uniform dispersion of ZlF-8-derived carbons, subsequently yielding a unique hierarchically porous structure. Such carbon shows superior activity in oxygen reduction reaction （ORR） and high performance of supercapacitance, making it a valu- able metal-flee electrode material and a competent alternative to the state-of-the-art Pt/C catalyst. The electrocatalytic performance of CNTs can be dramatically improved by the incorporation of ZIF-8-derived carbons, which is attributed to the combination of good conductivity, abundant accessible dopant species, as well as proper porosity. Our method offers a new avenue for constructing electrocatalysts by effective integration of ZlF-8-derived carbon and the CNTs skeleton.展开更多
基金supported by the Award Program for Fujian Minjiang Scholar Professorshipthe National Natural Science Foundation of China (21571035)
文摘Efficient electrode material is crucial for energy conversion from renewable sources such as solar electricity. We present a method for preparation of carbon nanotubes （CNTs） with zeolitic imidazolate frameworks （ZIFs, e.g., ZIF-8） via an in situ pyrolysis process. The resultant materials are completely new carbon composites with desirable hierarchical porosity and nitrogen-doped features. Electron microscopy images show that CNTs with small external diameters enable more uniform dispersion of ZlF-8-derived carbons, subsequently yielding a unique hierarchically porous structure. Such carbon shows superior activity in oxygen reduction reaction （ORR） and high performance of supercapacitance, making it a valu- able metal-flee electrode material and a competent alternative to the state-of-the-art Pt/C catalyst. The electrocatalytic performance of CNTs can be dramatically improved by the incorporation of ZIF-8-derived carbons, which is attributed to the combination of good conductivity, abundant accessible dopant species, as well as proper porosity. Our method offers a new avenue for constructing electrocatalysts by effective integration of ZlF-8-derived carbon and the CNTs skeleton.
