Chapter 4
Catalyst Materials for Oxygen Reduction
Reaction
Yunyong Li, Chunyong He, and Pei Kang Shen
4.1 Catalyst Support Material: Carbon Materials Such
as Graphene with Three-Dimensional Structure
In order to prepare an oxygen reduction electrocatalyst with high catalytic performance, the catalyst is usually loaded on a carrier material with high specific area
during the preparation process, this is because the catalyst carrier material can
perform the functions of supporting and dispersing of active components, mass
transfer, electricity, and heat conduction, and even some catalyst carrier materials
also have the function of cocatalyst [1]. Therefore, the catalyst carrier material has
great influence on the activity and stability of the catalyst. As a catalyst carrier material, the following conditions should be met [1, 2]: (1) high specific surface area is
conducive to highly uniform dispersion of the catalyst; (2) low combustible reaction
under dry and humid conditions; (3) high electrochemical stability; (4) high conductivity; (5) easy catalyst loading; (6) excellent anti-corrosion performance to prevent
the corrosion of electrolyte.
Catalyst support materials can generally be divided into two types [3]: carbon
support materials and non-carbon support materials. Carbon carrier materials mainly
include carbon black, mesoporous carbon, carbon nanotubes, carbon nanofibers,
graphene, etc. Non-carbon carrier materials mainly include oxides, carbides, nitrides,
etc.
Y. Li
Guangdong University of Technology, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
C. He
Spallation Neutron Source Science Center, Dongguan, Guangdong, China
P. K. Shen (B)
Collaborative Innovation Center of Sustainable Energy Materials, Guangxi Key Laboratory of
Electrochemical Energy Materials, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Guangxi
University, Nanning 530004, Guangxi, China
e-mail: pkshen@gxu.edu.cn
© Guangxi Science & Technology Publishing House 2021
P. K. Shen, Electrochemical Oxygen Reduction,
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-33-6077-8_4
85
Catalyst Materials for Oxygen Reduction
Reaction
Yunyong Li, Chunyong He, and Pei Kang Shen
4.1 Catalyst Support Material: Carbon Materials Such
as Graphene with Three-Dimensional Structure
In order to prepare an oxygen reduction electrocatalyst with high catalytic performance, the catalyst is usually loaded on a carrier material with high specific area
during the preparation process, this is because the catalyst carrier material can
perform the functions of supporting and dispersing of active components, mass
transfer, electricity, and heat conduction, and even some catalyst carrier materials
also have the function of cocatalyst [1]. Therefore, the catalyst carrier material has
great influence on the activity and stability of the catalyst. As a catalyst carrier material, the following conditions should be met [1, 2]: (1) high specific surface area is
conducive to highly uniform dispersion of the catalyst; (2) low combustible reaction
under dry and humid conditions; (3) high electrochemical stability; (4) high conductivity; (5) easy catalyst loading; (6) excellent anti-corrosion performance to prevent
the corrosion of electrolyte.
Catalyst support materials can generally be divided into two types [3]: carbon
support materials and non-carbon support materials. Carbon carrier materials mainly
include carbon black, mesoporous carbon, carbon nanotubes, carbon nanofibers,
graphene, etc. Non-carbon carrier materials mainly include oxides, carbides, nitrides,
etc.
Y. Li
Guangdong University of Technology, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
C. He
Spallation Neutron Source Science Center, Dongguan, Guangdong, China
P. K. Shen (B)
Collaborative Innovation Center of Sustainable Energy Materials, Guangxi Key Laboratory of
Electrochemical Energy Materials, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Guangxi
University, Nanning 530004, Guangxi, China
e-mail: pkshen@gxu.edu.cn
© Guangxi Science & Technology Publishing House 2021
P. K. Shen, Electrochemical Oxygen Reduction,
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-33-6077-8_4
85