Iron- and nitrogen-doped carbon aerogels made from mesoporous resorcinol-formaldehyde aerogels as Fe-N-C catalyst in HT-PEMFC

Abstract

Carbon aerogels are three-dimensional, open porous solid materials produced via carbonization of organic aerogels based on e.g. resorcinol-formaldehyde polymers. Carbon aerogels exhibit unique properties such as well-controlled pore size distribution, high porosity, large specific surface area, high electrical conductivity and low envelope density. These characteristics make them promising materials for applications in adsorption, catalysis, supercapacitors, fuel cells or batteries. A fuel cell uses the chemical energy of hydrogen or other fuels to cleanly and efficiently produce electricity. Fuel cells are unique in terms of the variety of their potential applications providing power for multiple sectors. Hydrogen fuel cells emit only water, addressing critical climate challenges as there are no carbon dioxide emissions. In polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells, platinum is used as a catalyst to promote the sluggish oxygen reduction reaction. A suitable alternative to critical raw materials are iron-nitrogen (Fe-Nx) complexes embedded in a porous, carbonaceous structure. Carbon aerogels have a great potential to be used as a carbon host for this purpose. In our previous study, we reported on different synthesis routes to produce Fe-N-C materials made from carbon aerogels [2]. Here, we developed a novel one-pot synthesis route to produce iron- and nitrogen-doped carbon aerogels made from mesoporous resorcinol-formaldehyde aerogels. Within this poster presentation, we will focus on our recent studies showing different synthesis techniques and the results of physicochemical and electrochemical characterization of the doped carbon aerogels using physisorption measurements, scanning and transmission electron microscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction and electrical conductivity measurements. Finally, the electrochemical activity is investigated with the rotating ring-disk electrode.

[1] Pekala, R. W. and C. T. Alviso (1992). Carbon Aerogels and Xerogels. MRS Online Proceedings Library. [2] Zierdt, T., et al., ChemSusChem 2024, doi: 10.1002/cssc.202401843