Origin of the electrocatalytic activity in carbon nanotube fiber counter-electrodes for solar-energy conversion

Carbon nanotubes are a versatile platform to develop sustainable and stable electrodes for energy-related applications. However, their electrocatalytic activity is still poorly understood. This work deciphers the origin of the catalytic activity of counter-electrodes (CEs)/current collectors made of self-standing carbon nanotube fibers (CNTfs) using Co²⁺/Co³⁺ redox couple electrolytes. This is based on comprehensive electrochemical and spectroscopic characterization of fresh and used electrodes applied to symmetric electrochemical cells using platinum-based CEs as a reference. As the most relevant findings, two straight relationships were established: (i) the limiting current and stability increase rapidly with the surface concentration of oxygen-containing functional groups, and (ii) the catalytic potential is inversely related to the amount of residual metallic Fe catalyst nanoparticles interspersed in the CNTf network. Finally, the fine tuning of the metal nanoparticle content and the degree of functionalization enabled fabrication of efficient and stable dye-sensitized solar cells with cobalt electrolytes and CNTf-CEs outperforming those with reference Pt-CEs.

CO2 Electrochemical Reduction by Exohedral N-Pyridine Decorated Metal-Free Carbon Nanotubes

Electrochemical CO2 reduction reaction (CO2RR) to fuels and chemicals represents nowadays one of the most challenging solutions for renewable energy storage and utilization. Among the possible reaction pathways, CO2-to-CO conversion is the first (2e−) reduction step towards the production of a key-feedstock that holds great relevance for chemical industry. In this report we describe the electrocatalytic CO2-to-CO reduction by a series of tailored N-decorated carbon nanotubes to be employed as chemoselective metal-free electrocatalysts. The choice of an exohedral functionalization tool for the introduction of defined N-groups at the outer surface of carbon nanomaterials warrants a unique control on N-configuration and electronic charge density distribution at the dangling heterocycles. A comparative electrochemical screening of variably N-substituted carbon nanomaterials in CO2RR together with an analysis of the electronic charge density distribution at each heterocycle have suggested the existence of a coherent descriptor for the catalyst’s CO faradaic efficiency (FECO). Evidence allows to infer that N-configuration (N-pyridinic vs. N-pyrrolic) of exohedral dopants and electronic charge density distribution at the N-neighboring carbon atoms of each heterocycle are directly engaged in the activation and stabilization of CO2 and its reduction intermediates.

Recent Advances in Carbon-Based Metal-Free Electrocatalysts

Precious noble metals (such as Pt, Ir) and nonprecious transition metals (e.g., Fe, Co), including their compounds (e.g., oxides, nitrides), have been widely investigated as efficient catalysts for energy conversion, energy storage, important chemical productions, and many industrial processes. However, they often suffer from high cost, low selectivity, poor durability, and susceptibility to gas poisoning with adverse environmental issues. As a low-cost alternative, the first carbon-based metal-free catalyst (C-MFC based on N-doped carbon nanotubes) was discovered in 2009. Since then, various C-MFCs have been demonstrated to show similar or even better catalytic performance than their metal-based counterparts, attractive energy conversion and storage (e.g., fuel cells, metal-air batteries, water splitting), environmental remediation, and chemical production. Enormous progress has been achieved while the number of publications still rapidly increases every year. Herein, a critical overview of the very recent advances in this rapidly developing field during the last couple of years is presented.

Catalysis by hybrid sp2/sp3nanodiamonds and their role in the design of advanced nanocarbon materials

Hybrid sp²/sp³nanocarbons, in particular sp³-hybridized ultra-dispersed nanodiamonds and derivative materials, such as the sp³/sp²-hybridized bucky nanodiamonds and sp²-hybridized onion-like carbons, represent a rather interesting class of catalysts still under consideration.

Hydroboration of carbon dioxide with catechol- and pinacolborane using an Ir–CNP* pincer complex. Water influence on the catalytic activity

Lutidine-derived CNP*–Ir complexes catalyze the hydroboration of CO₂ to methoxyborane and formoxyborane in the presence of small amounts of water.