A Three-Dimensionally Structured Electrocatalyst: Cobalt-Embedded Nitrogen-Doped Carbon Nanotubes/Nitrogen-Doped Reduced Graphene Oxide Hybrid for Efficient Oxygen Reduction

To develop low-cost and efficient oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) catalysts, a novel hybrid comprising cobalt-embedded nitrogen-doped carbon nanotubes and nitrogen-doped reduced graphene oxide (Co-NCNT/NrGO-800) was simply prepared by pyrolysis. The combination of nanotubes and graphene, and the efficient doping with cobalt and nitrogen, greatly contribute to the excellent ORR performance. This optimized Co-NCNT/NrGO catalyst exhibits a positive onset potential of 0.91 V and a half-wave potential of 0.82 V, combined with a relatively low peroxide yield, better durability, and better methanol tolerance than commercially available Pt/C, which makes it a promising candidate as a low-cost and effective non-precious-metal ORR catalyst.