Developing FeCo-NC Alloy For Optimizing Electrocatalytic Activity in Water Splitting and Oxygen Reduction
Category
Sciences and Technology
Department
Material Science
Student Status
Graduate
Research Advisor
Dr. Ram Gupta
Document Type
Event
Location
Student Center Ballroom
Start Date
10-4-2025 2:00 PM
End Date
10-4-2025 4:00 PM
Description
The growing need for sustainable energy has driven research into effective electrocatalysts for crucial reactions such as OER, HER, and ORR. This study focuses on the design of a FeCo-NC/CNT alloy catalyst with adjustable Fe/Co ratios to enhance electrocatalytic performance. The catalyst was created through hydrothermal and pyrolysis methods, resulting in a well-defined alloy structure supported by nitrogen-doped carbon. Characterization confirmed the successful incorporation of Fe and Co into the NC/CNT framework, boosting conductivity and increasing active sites. Electrochemical testing revealed that the Fe0.9Co0.1-CNT catalyst had the best catalytic performance of the group, with an OER overpotential of 247 mV, a HER overpotential of 71 mV at a current density of 10 mA/cm2 , with an ORR half-wave potential (E1/2) of 0.87 V vs. RHE. Its OER performance is close to that of Iridium Oxide, a benchmark noble metal catalyst, demonstrating its potential as a cost-effective and efficient alternative. The combination of Fe and Co in the NC/CNT matrix significantly improves reaction kinetics and electron transfer. These findings suggest that the FeCo-NC/CNT alloy catalyst could replace costly noble metal-based electrocatalysts in applications like fuel cells, metal-air batteries, and water-splitting systems. This research underscores the importance of tuning metal composition and optimizing structure to develop high-performance catalysts and advance sustainable energy solutions.
Developing FeCo-NC Alloy For Optimizing Electrocatalytic Activity in Water Splitting and Oxygen Reduction
Student Center Ballroom
The growing need for sustainable energy has driven research into effective electrocatalysts for crucial reactions such as OER, HER, and ORR. This study focuses on the design of a FeCo-NC/CNT alloy catalyst with adjustable Fe/Co ratios to enhance electrocatalytic performance. The catalyst was created through hydrothermal and pyrolysis methods, resulting in a well-defined alloy structure supported by nitrogen-doped carbon. Characterization confirmed the successful incorporation of Fe and Co into the NC/CNT framework, boosting conductivity and increasing active sites. Electrochemical testing revealed that the Fe0.9Co0.1-CNT catalyst had the best catalytic performance of the group, with an OER overpotential of 247 mV, a HER overpotential of 71 mV at a current density of 10 mA/cm2 , with an ORR half-wave potential (E1/2) of 0.87 V vs. RHE. Its OER performance is close to that of Iridium Oxide, a benchmark noble metal catalyst, demonstrating its potential as a cost-effective and efficient alternative. The combination of Fe and Co in the NC/CNT matrix significantly improves reaction kinetics and electron transfer. These findings suggest that the FeCo-NC/CNT alloy catalyst could replace costly noble metal-based electrocatalysts in applications like fuel cells, metal-air batteries, and water-splitting systems. This research underscores the importance of tuning metal composition and optimizing structure to develop high-performance catalysts and advance sustainable energy solutions.
