Abstract
Herein, we report for the first time, a unique three- dimensionally (3-D) interconnected and surface N functionalized (25%) graphene quantum dots (c-GQDs), which has been designed by a simple hydrazine hydrate treatment of GQDs in acidic condition at low temperature followed by a heat treatment that has remarkably enhanced electrocatalytic activity. A comparable exchange current density (i0: 0.8×10−3 A/cm2) with respect to the Pt/C and a low overpotential (220 mV; η10mA/cm 2) has been observed for c-GQDs. The improved performance of the material is attributed to the unique structure of the N-interlinkage among the individual GQDs where the pyridinic-N-oxide develops electron rich active sites in the carbon framework for favourable H+ adsorption and desorption. We hope that our study may build up a new platform to the graphene based materials for various energy applications.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 4511-4515 |
| Number of pages | 5 |
| Journal | ChemistrySelect |
| Volume | 2 |
| Issue number | 16 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - 31 May 2017 |
| Externally published | Yes |
Bibliographical note
Publisher Copyright:© 2017 Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim
Funding
Authors thank Dr. Mahesh Kulkarni, NCL for MALDI-TOF. SK acknowledges IUSSTF(22-2012/2013-14), its members Prof. P. M. Ajayan, and Prof. S. Talapatra. SK acknowledges CSIR for fellowship. Authors acknowledge CSC-0101 for funding. Authors thank all CIF staffs, CSIR-CECRI.
| Funders | Funder number |
|---|---|
| Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, India | CSC-0101 |
| Indo-US Science and Technology Forum | 22-2012/2013-14 |
Keywords
- Glassy carbon electrode (GC)
- Graphene Quantum Dots (GQDs)
- Hydrogen evolution reaction (HER)
- Rotating disk electrode (RDE)
- interconnected GQDs (c-GQDs)