Research Projects

Carbon materials with two or more heteroatoms significantly improve ORR catalytic activity compared to single doping. Hierarchical porous carbon materials with interconnected mesoporous structures are ideal ORR electrocatalysts due to their large surface area, short diffusion path, and faster interfacial electron and mass transport. Transition metal phosphides (TMPs) are excellent electrocatalysts for HER in both acidic and alkaline media, but suffer from low surface area and poor electrical conductivity. Ternary metal phosphides increase electrocatalytic activity of both HER and OER, and increase electoconductivity to decrease charge-transfer resistance. Bimetallic phosphide @ ternary doped 1D HPCM is effective for overall water splitting at low overpotential. Phytic acid acts as P dopant and cross-linker to form 3D networks, while Polyethylenimine (PEI) and 2-aminothiazole are sources for N and S, respectively. Ternary doped 3D HPC foam can be obtained after carbonization.