CMK3/graphene-N-Co – a low-cost and high-performance catalytic system

An excellent CMK3/graphene-N-Co (CMK3/G-N-Co) catalytic system was firstly prepared by a simple procedure. It shows excellent catalytic ability in alkaline media for the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) and the half-peak potential is only 27 mV less than that of the commercial 20% Pt/C catalyst. The product revealed superior stability and tolerance to methanol poisoning effects compared to the commercial 20% Pt/C catalyst. The excellent performance is probably attributed to the doping of the nitrogen and cobalt elements in the CMK3/G, formation of a three-dimensional nanoporous network structure by combining graphene with CMK3 and the promoted charge transfer across the carbon–Co interface and conductivity of the nanocomposite. Since graphene oxide (GO) and CMK3 are commercially available materials, the CMK3/G-N-Co catalytic system for the ORR is a promising alternative to Pt in the practical application of fuel cells. The product may also have potential applications in the fields of metal–air batteries, lithium-ion batteries, supercapacitors, sensors and so on.