Orange Peel Derived‐Nitrogen and Sulfur Co‐doped Carbon Dots: a Nano‐booster for Enhancing ORR Electrocatalytic Performance of 3D Graphene Networks

• Published in: Electroanalysis (New York, N.Y.) Vol. 33; no. 5; pp. 1356 - 1369
• Main Author: Karaman, Ceren
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: 01-05-2021
• Subjects: Carbon dots; electrocatalyst; heteroatom doped; oxygen reduction reaction; three dimensional graphene
• ISSN: 1040-0397; 1521-4109
• DOI: 10.1002/elan.202100018

Herein, nitrogen, sulfur co‐doped carbon dots (N,S−CDs) have been synthesized by a cost‐natural fabrication method using waste orange‐peel as a natural‐carbon‐precursor. N,S−CDs have been hydrothermally anchored to the three‐dimensional‐graphene‐networks (3D−GNs) to boost the electrocatalytic activity by a defective surface effect. Due to the synergistic utilization of heteroatoms, and effective mass‐transfer and improved transport kinetics resulting from interconnected 3D‐architecture, N,S−CDs anchored 3D−GNs (N,S−CDs@3D−GNs) grant superior oxygen‐reduction‐reaction (ORR) activity. N,S−CDs@3D−GNs exhibit a dominant four‐electron pathway (n=3.89) for ORR in alkaline media besides superior methanol tolerance and robust stability. This work opens a door for converting low‐value agricultural wastes into value‐added materials for utilizing in energy application.