M (Mn/Fe/Co/Ni)-N-C Catalysts for Versatile Electrochemical Applications
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 development of atomically dispersed M-N-C catalysts, where a metal (M) is supported on nitrogen-doped carbon (NC) matrix, is highly desirable for multifunctional electrocatalysis but remains a significant challenge due to size constraints and stability issues. In this study, we synthesized M-N-C catalysts (M = Fe, Co, Mn, and Ni) were synthesized using a Zn-assisted high-temperature treatment and characterized through various techniques. The electrocatalytic activity of the synthesized catalyst was evaluated for the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR), oxygen evolution reaction (OER), and hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) in alkaline media. The findings revealed that Mn-N-C exhibited superior ORR (E1/2 = 0.90 V) and OER (n10 = 283 mV/cm2) performance compared to other catalysts. In contrast, Fe-N-C demonstrated the best HER activity (n10 = 65 mV/cm2). Theoretical studies indicated that the Mn-N-C catalyst's HOMO energy was close to the LUMO of 02, enabling efficient electron transfer from Mn's 3d orbitals to 02's Tt* orbitals, weakening the O-O bond. Meanwhile, Fe-N-C exhibited optimal binding energy for 02 and H2, enhancing its OER and HER performance. This study presents a novel strategy for tuning the electronic and electrochemical properties of M-N-C catalysts, offering valuable insights for catalyst design in energy conversion applications.
M (Mn/Fe/Co/Ni)-N-C Catalysts for Versatile Electrochemical Applications
Student Center Ballroom
The development of atomically dispersed M-N-C catalysts, where a metal (M) is supported on nitrogen-doped carbon (NC) matrix, is highly desirable for multifunctional electrocatalysis but remains a significant challenge due to size constraints and stability issues. In this study, we synthesized M-N-C catalysts (M = Fe, Co, Mn, and Ni) were synthesized using a Zn-assisted high-temperature treatment and characterized through various techniques. The electrocatalytic activity of the synthesized catalyst was evaluated for the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR), oxygen evolution reaction (OER), and hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) in alkaline media. The findings revealed that Mn-N-C exhibited superior ORR (E1/2 = 0.90 V) and OER (n10 = 283 mV/cm2) performance compared to other catalysts. In contrast, Fe-N-C demonstrated the best HER activity (n10 = 65 mV/cm2). Theoretical studies indicated that the Mn-N-C catalyst's HOMO energy was close to the LUMO of 02, enabling efficient electron transfer from Mn's 3d orbitals to 02's Tt* orbitals, weakening the O-O bond. Meanwhile, Fe-N-C exhibited optimal binding energy for 02 and H2, enhancing its OER and HER performance. This study presents a novel strategy for tuning the electronic and electrochemical properties of M-N-C catalysts, offering valuable insights for catalyst design in energy conversion applications.
