Partially Hydrogenated Graphene Materials Exhibit High Electrocatalytic Activities Related to Unintentional Doping with Metallic Impurities

0463514 - ÚOCHB 2017 RIV DE eng J - Journal Article
Jankovský, O. - Libánská, A. - Bouša, D. - Sedmidubský, D. - Matějková, Stanislava - Sofer, Z.
Partially Hydrogenated Graphene Materials Exhibit High Electrocatalytic Activities Related to Unintentional Doping with Metallic Impurities.
Chemistry - A European Journal. Roč. 22, č. 25 (2016), s. 8627-8634. ISSN 0947-6539. E-ISSN 1521-3765
R&D Projects: GA ČR(CZ) GA15-09001S
Institutional support: RVO:61388963
Keywords : electrocatalysis * electrochemistry * graphene * hydrogenation * sensing
Subject RIV: CA - Inorganic Chemistry
Impact factor: 5.317, year: 2016

Partially hydrogenated graphene materials, synthesized by the chemical reduction/ hydrogenation of two different graphene oxides using zinc powder in acidic environment or aluminum powder in alkaline environment, exhibit high electrocatalytic activities, as well as electrochemical sensing properties. The starting graphene oxides and the resultant hydrogenated graphenes were characterized in detail. Their electrocatalytic activity was examined in the oxygen reduction reaction, whereas sensing properties towards explosives were tested by using picric acid as a redox probe. Findings indicate that the high electrocatalytic performance originates not only from the hydrogenation of graphene, but also from unintentional contamination of graphene with manganese and other metals during synthesis. A careful evaluation of the obtained data and a detailed chemical analysis are necessary to identify the origin of this anomalous electrocatalytic activity.
Permanent Link: http://hdl.handle.net/11104/0262691