Summary
Replacing platinum in the oxygen reduction reaction is one of the persistent goals of fuel cell research. This study combines three materials whose properties are complementary: nitrogen-doped carbon quantum dots, a hydroxide-conducting ionomer based on quaternised polysulfone, and polyaniline. The quantum dots were produced hydrothermally from glucosamine hydrochloride, alone or with N-octylamine, and the combination was assembled into nanostructured, metal-free electrodes for the oxygen reduction reaction in alkaline solution - a route to catalytic activity without precious metals.
Authors & Affiliations
Linari Electrospinning Systems
Electrospinning Starter Kit Random
The electrodes were prepared on a Linari Engineering Starter Kit Random setup, with a 10 ml syringe and a 0.8 mm needle mounted on the syringe pump at a controlled flow rate - the static-collector configuration described on our Starter Kit page.