TY - JOUR
T1 - Metal-free electrocatalysts obtained from agave waste by solar pyrolysis for oxygen reduction reaction
AU - Campos Roldán, C. A.
AU - Ayala-Cortés, A.
AU - González-Huerta, R. G.
AU - Villafán-Vidales, H. I.
AU - Arancibia-Bulnes, C. A.
AU - Cuentas-Gallegos, A. K.
AU - Farías, M. H.
AU - Martínez-Casillas, D. C.
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2020 Hydrogen Energy Publications LLC
PY - 2021/7/26
Y1 - 2021/7/26
N2 - Characterization and electrochemical evaluation of novel metal-free electrocatalysts obtained by solar pyrolysis is reported. Carbon-based electrocatalysts were prepared from agave bagasse waste, using a sustainable process based on concentrated solar energy as heat source. Agave was processed in a spherical borosilicate glass solar reactor using a heating rate of 30 °C min−1 to a target of 500, 700, or 900 °C, and maintaining temperature for 1 h under inert atmosphere. The structure and composition of the prepared electrocatalysts were influenced by pyrolysis temperature. In addition, electrocatalytic activity towards the oxygen reduction reaction in 0.1 M KOH solution was explored. The electrocatalyst obtained at 500 °C showed the highest activity among all pyrolyzed samples due to its moderate surface area, but mostly due to its higher oxygen content. The metal-free electrocatalysts reported in this work are promising eco-friendly alternative as cathode materials for anion-exchange membrane fuel cells. This study provides a sustainable approach to use agricultural biomass waste to produce valuable materials for electrochemical energy devices.
AB - Characterization and electrochemical evaluation of novel metal-free electrocatalysts obtained by solar pyrolysis is reported. Carbon-based electrocatalysts were prepared from agave bagasse waste, using a sustainable process based on concentrated solar energy as heat source. Agave was processed in a spherical borosilicate glass solar reactor using a heating rate of 30 °C min−1 to a target of 500, 700, or 900 °C, and maintaining temperature for 1 h under inert atmosphere. The structure and composition of the prepared electrocatalysts were influenced by pyrolysis temperature. In addition, electrocatalytic activity towards the oxygen reduction reaction in 0.1 M KOH solution was explored. The electrocatalyst obtained at 500 °C showed the highest activity among all pyrolyzed samples due to its moderate surface area, but mostly due to its higher oxygen content. The metal-free electrocatalysts reported in this work are promising eco-friendly alternative as cathode materials for anion-exchange membrane fuel cells. This study provides a sustainable approach to use agricultural biomass waste to produce valuable materials for electrochemical energy devices.
KW - Biomass waste
KW - Carbon
KW - Metal-free electrocatalyst
KW - Oxygen reduction reaction
KW - Solar pyrolysis
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85098847834&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.ijhydene.2020.12.095
DO - 10.1016/j.ijhydene.2020.12.095
M3 - Artículo
AN - SCOPUS:85098847834
SN - 0360-3199
VL - 46
SP - 26101
EP - 26109
JO - International Journal of Hydrogen Energy
JF - International Journal of Hydrogen Energy
IS - 51
ER -
