Novel Graphene Hydrogel/B‐Doped Graphene Quantum Dots Composites as Trifunctional Electrocatalysts for Zn−Air Batteries and Overall Water Splitting

• Published in: Advanced energy materials Vol. 9; no. 26
• Main Authors: Tam, Tran Van, Kang, Sung Gu, Kim, Mun Ho, Lee, Seung Geol, Hur, Seung Hyun, Chung, Jin Suk, Choi, Won Mook
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Weinheim Wiley Subscription Services, Inc 01-07-2019
• Subjects: Batteries; Catalysis; Catalysts; Circuits; Composite materials; Electric potential; Electrocatalysts; Electrodes; Electrolysis; Graphene; graphene hydrogels; graphene quantum dots; Hydrogels; Hydrogen evolution reactions; Ion diffusion; Iridium; Metal air batteries; Oxygen evolution reactions; Oxygen reduction reactions; Porosity; Quantum dots; Stability; trifunctional catalysts; Voltage; water electrolysis; Water splitting; Zinc-oxygen batteries; Zn–air batteries
• ISSN: 1614-6832; 1614-6840
• DOI: 10.1002/aenm.201900945

Herein, a facile, one‐step hydrothermal route to synthesize novel all‐carbon‐based composites composed of B‐doped graphene quantum dots anchored on a graphene hydrogel (GH‐BGQD) is demonstrated. The obtained GH‐BGQD material has a unique 3D architecture with high porosity and large specific surface area, exhibiting abundant catalytic active sites of B‐GQDs as well as enhanced electrolyte mass transport and ion diffusion. Therefore, the prepared GH‐BGQD composites exhibit a superior trifunctional electrocatalytic activity toward the oxygen reduction reaction, oxygen evolution reaction, and hydrogen evolution reaction with excellent long‐term stability and durability comparable to those of commercial Pt/C and Ir/C catalysts. A flexible solid‐state Zn–air battery using a GH‐BGQD air electrode achieves an open‐circuit voltage of 1.40 V, a stable discharge voltage of 1.23 V for 100 h, a specific capacity of 687 mAh g−1, and a peak power density of 112 mW cm−2. Also, a water electrolysis cell using GH‐BGQD electrodes delivers a current density of 10 mA cm−2 at cell voltage of 1.61 V, with remarkable stability during 70 h of operation. Finally, the trifunctional GH‐BGQD catalyst is employed for water electrolysis cell powered by the prepared Zn–air batteries, providing a new strategy for the carbon‐based multifunctional electrocatalysts for electrochemical energy devices.
Graphene hydrogel/B‐doped graphene quantum dots composite (GH‐BGQD) is prepared via one‐pot hydrothermal process. The prepared GH‐BGQD shows excellent electrochemical performance with long‐term stability and durability as a trifunctional electrocatalyst for the oxygen reduction reaction, oxygen evolution reaction, and hydrogen evolution reaction. Using this catalyst, Zn–air batteries and water electrolysis are demonstrated to show promising performance.