Lee, In Hyuk Cho, Jinwon Chae, Keun Hwa Cho, Min Kyung Jung, Juhae Cho, Jongin Lee, Hyun Jin Ham, Hyung Chul Kim, Jin Young 2024-01-19T21:30:23Z 2024-01-19T21:30:23Z 2021-09-04 2018-12 0926-3373 https://pubs.kist.re.kr/handle/201004/120653 Carbon blacks, which consist of the assemblies of small graphene clusters having a spherical concentric packing structure, are amorphous and have widely been used as catalyst supports for proton exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC) electrodes. However, poor electrochemical corrosion resistance during extended use and repeated cyclic operation of PEMFCs shortens their practical device lifetime; surface defects, such as nanosized disordered domains, have been established as the most influential factors. Herein, we coupled polymeric graphitic carbon nitride (pg-CN) with amorphous carbon black (a-CB) in a core@shell structure to produce an electrochemically efficient and stable electrocatalyst support. Our protocol allowed for the simultaneous optimization of uniformly thin graphitic shell structures for electrochemical corrosion stability and nitrogen-enriched functionalities on the carbon surfaces for electrocatalyst (e.g., platinum) nucleation. The newly prepared a-CB@pg-CNs enhanced the stable fuel cell devices operation and remained invariant even at high potential (1.2-1.7 V). Significantly, when used for constructing the PEMFC electrode, a-CB@pg-CN support-based Pt catalyst electrodes outperformed and exhibited superior stability over state-of-the-art commercial a-CB-based counterparts. Experimental observations and density functional theory (DFT) calculations revealed that the unusual electrocatalytic properties of as prepared a-CB@pg-CNs originated from an intrinsic chemical and electronic coupling that synergistically reduced electrochemical corrosion kinetics and promoted catalyst support interactions. English ELSEVIER Polymeric graphitic carbon nitride nanosheet-coated amorphous carbon supports for enhanced fuel cell electrode performance and stability Article 10.1016/j.apcatb.2018.05.081 1 APPLIED CATALYSIS B-ENVIRONMENTAL, v.237, pp.318 - 326 APPLIED CATALYSIS B-ENVIRONMENTAL 237 318 326 N scie scopus 000442973700035 2-s2.0-85048178841 Chemistry, Physical Engineering, Environmental Engineering, Chemical Chemistry Engineering Article OXYGEN REDUCTION REACTION PLATINUM CATALYST DEGRADATION DURABILITY ELECTROCATALYSTS OXIDATION CATHODE FUTURE PEMFC RATIO Catalyst support Durability of PEMFC materials Electrochemical carbon instability Proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs) Surface modification