Chinese Journal of Applied Chemistry ›› 2018, Vol. 35 ›› Issue (3): 272-285.DOI: 10.11944/j.issn.1000-0518.2018.03.170391

• Review • Previous Articles     Next Articles

Graphene-based Catalysts for Efficient Electrocatalytic Applications

CHEN Sia,SUN Lizhenb,SHU Xinxina,ZHANG Jintaoa*()   

  1. aKey Laboratory for Colloid and Interface Chemistry,Ministry of Education,School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering,Shandong University,Ji'nan 250100,China
    bShandong Institute of Food and Drug Control,Ji'nan 250101,China
  • Received:2017-10-31 Accepted:2017-12-14 Published:2018-03-05 Online:2018-02-12
  • Contact: ZHANG Jintao
  • Supported by:
    Supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(No.21503116), the Taishan Scholars Program of Shandong Province(No.tsqn20161004), the Qingdao Basic & Applied Research Project(No.15-9-1-56-jch)

Abstract:

To solve the issues of energy shortage and environmental pollution, researchers are working to develop clean and sustainable energy sources. Among them, chemical reactions(e.g., oxygen reduction reaction, oxygen evolution reaction, and hydrogen evolution reaction) are of importance for the development of electrochemical energy conversion and storage. In order to improve its energy conversion efficiency, electrocatalysts(e.g., Pt/C) are commonly used to reduce the activation energy of these sluggish reactions and improve the energy conversion efficiency. In recent years, graphene, as a two-dimensional carbon material with a high specific surface area and excellent electronic conductivity, has attracted a wide range of research interests. The graphene-based catalytic materials with low price and high stability comparable to those of noble metal catalysts have been designed by means of heteroatom doping, surface defect modulation and introduction of catalytic active components(e.g., non-noble metal oxides). This review summarizes the latest research progress of graphene-based electrocatalysts with multifunctional applications by rationally controlling on the surface/interface structures and properties, with a special focus on their promising applications in fuel cells, metal-air batteries and electrochemical water splitting. Furthermore, challenges and future development of graphene-based electrocatalysts are also discussed.

Key words: graphene, non-noble metal electrocatalyst, oxygen reduction reaction, oxygen evolution reaction, hydrogen evolution reaction, electrocatalysis