@article{Ren2015, 
author = {Guangyuan Ren and Yunan Li and Zhaoyan Guo and Guozheng Xiao and Ying Zhu and Liming Dai and Lei Jiang},
title = {A bio-inspired Co3O4-polypyrrole-graphene complex as an efficient oxygen reduction catalyst in one-step ball milling},
year = {2015},
journal = {Nano Research},
volume = {8},
number = {11},
pages = {3461-3471},
keywords = {graphene, cobalt-polypyrrole, oxygen reduction reaction, electrocatalysts, ball milling},
url = {https://www.sciopen.com/article/10.1007/s12274-015-0844-5},
doi = {10.1007/s12274-015-0844-5},
abstract = {The development of non-precious metal-based electrocatalysts has attracted much research attention because of their high oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) activities, low cost, and good durability. By one-step in-situ ball milling of graphite, pyrrole, and cobalt salt without resorting to high-temperature annealing, we developed a general and facile strategy to synthesize bio-inspired cobalt oxide and polypyrrole coupled with a graphene nanosheet (Co3O4-PPy/GN) complex. Herein, the exfoliation of graphite and polymerization of pyrrole occurred simultaneously during the ball milling process. Meanwhile, the Co3O4 and Co-Nx ORR active sites were generated from the oxidized cobalt ion, cobalt-PPy, and the newly exfoliated graphene nanosheets via strong π–π stacking interactions. The resultant Co3O4-PPy/GN catalysts showed efficient electrocatalytic performances for ORRs in an alkaline medium with a positive onset and reduction potentials of -0.102 and -0.196 V (vs. Ag/AgCl), as well as a high diffusion-limited current density (4.471 mA·cm-2), which was comparable to that of a Pt/C catalyst (4.941 mA·cm-2). Compared to Pt/C, Co3O4-PPy/GN catalysts displayed better long-term stability, methanol tolerance, and anti-CO-poisoning effects, which are of great significance for the design and development of advanced non-precious metal electrocatalysts.}
}