Biopolymer-Inspired N-Doped Nanocarbon Using Carbonized Polydopamine: A High-Performance Electrocatalyst for Hydrogen-Evolution Reaction
Hydrogen-evolution reaction (HER) is a promising technology for renewable energy conversion and storage. Electrochemical HER can provide a cost-effective method for the clean production of hydrogen. In this study, a biomimetic eco-friendly approach to fabricate nitrogen-doped carbon nanosheets, exhi...
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MDPI AG
2020-04-01
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| Series: | Polymers |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4360/12/4/912 |
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| author | Duong Nguyen Nguyen Uk Sim Jung Kyu Kim |
| author_facet | Duong Nguyen Nguyen Uk Sim Jung Kyu Kim |
| author_sort | Duong Nguyen Nguyen |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Hydrogen-evolution reaction (HER) is a promising technology for renewable energy conversion and storage. Electrochemical HER can provide a cost-effective method for the clean production of hydrogen. In this study, a biomimetic eco-friendly approach to fabricate nitrogen-doped carbon nanosheets, exhibiting a high HER performance, and using a carbonized polydopamine (C-PDA), is described. As a biopolymer, polydopamine (PDA) exhibits high biocompatibility and can be easily obtained by an environmentally benign green synthesis with dopamine. Inspired by the polymerization of dopamine, we have devised the facile synthesis of nitrogen-doped nanocarbons using a carbonized polydopamine for the HER in acidic media. The N-doped nanocarbons exhibit excellent performance for H<sub>2</sub> generation. The required overpotential at 5 mA/cm<sup>2</sup> is 130 mV, and the Tafel slope is 45 mV/decade. Experimental characterizations confirm that the excellent performance of the N-doped nanocarbons can be attributed to the multisite nitrogen doping, while theoretical computations indicate the promotion effect of tertiary/aromatic nitrogen doping in enhancing the spin density of the doped samples and consequently in forming highly electroactive sites for HER applications. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T20:27:30Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-d106ec2d868a48c99c18b9d7dec3c1e7 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2073-4360 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T20:27:30Z |
| publishDate | 2020-04-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Polymers |
| spelling | doaj.art-d106ec2d868a48c99c18b9d7dec3c1e72023-11-19T21:41:35ZengMDPI AGPolymers2073-43602020-04-0112491210.3390/polym12040912Biopolymer-Inspired N-Doped Nanocarbon Using Carbonized Polydopamine: A High-Performance Electrocatalyst for Hydrogen-Evolution ReactionDuong Nguyen Nguyen0Uk Sim1Jung Kyu Kim2School of Chemical Engineering, Sungkyunkwan University (SKKU), Suwon 16419, KoreaDepartment of Materials Science & Engineering, Engineering Research Center and Optoelectronics Convergence Research Center, College of Engineering and College of AI Convergence, Chonnam National University, Gwangju 61186, KoreaSchool of Chemical Engineering, Sungkyunkwan University (SKKU), Suwon 16419, KoreaHydrogen-evolution reaction (HER) is a promising technology for renewable energy conversion and storage. Electrochemical HER can provide a cost-effective method for the clean production of hydrogen. In this study, a biomimetic eco-friendly approach to fabricate nitrogen-doped carbon nanosheets, exhibiting a high HER performance, and using a carbonized polydopamine (C-PDA), is described. As a biopolymer, polydopamine (PDA) exhibits high biocompatibility and can be easily obtained by an environmentally benign green synthesis with dopamine. Inspired by the polymerization of dopamine, we have devised the facile synthesis of nitrogen-doped nanocarbons using a carbonized polydopamine for the HER in acidic media. The N-doped nanocarbons exhibit excellent performance for H<sub>2</sub> generation. The required overpotential at 5 mA/cm<sup>2</sup> is 130 mV, and the Tafel slope is 45 mV/decade. Experimental characterizations confirm that the excellent performance of the N-doped nanocarbons can be attributed to the multisite nitrogen doping, while theoretical computations indicate the promotion effect of tertiary/aromatic nitrogen doping in enhancing the spin density of the doped samples and consequently in forming highly electroactive sites for HER applications.https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4360/12/4/912polydopaminePDAcarbon nanosheetnitrogen-doped carbonelectrocatalystshydrogen-evolution reaction |
| spellingShingle | Duong Nguyen Nguyen Uk Sim Jung Kyu Kim Biopolymer-Inspired N-Doped Nanocarbon Using Carbonized Polydopamine: A High-Performance Electrocatalyst for Hydrogen-Evolution Reaction Polymers polydopamine PDA carbon nanosheet nitrogen-doped carbon electrocatalysts hydrogen-evolution reaction |
| title | Biopolymer-Inspired N-Doped Nanocarbon Using Carbonized Polydopamine: A High-Performance Electrocatalyst for Hydrogen-Evolution Reaction |
| title_full | Biopolymer-Inspired N-Doped Nanocarbon Using Carbonized Polydopamine: A High-Performance Electrocatalyst for Hydrogen-Evolution Reaction |
| title_fullStr | Biopolymer-Inspired N-Doped Nanocarbon Using Carbonized Polydopamine: A High-Performance Electrocatalyst for Hydrogen-Evolution Reaction |
| title_full_unstemmed | Biopolymer-Inspired N-Doped Nanocarbon Using Carbonized Polydopamine: A High-Performance Electrocatalyst for Hydrogen-Evolution Reaction |
| title_short | Biopolymer-Inspired N-Doped Nanocarbon Using Carbonized Polydopamine: A High-Performance Electrocatalyst for Hydrogen-Evolution Reaction |
| title_sort | biopolymer inspired n doped nanocarbon using carbonized polydopamine a high performance electrocatalyst for hydrogen evolution reaction |
| topic | polydopamine PDA carbon nanosheet nitrogen-doped carbon electrocatalysts hydrogen-evolution reaction |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4360/12/4/912 |
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