Orange Peel Derived‐Nitrogen and Sulfur Co‐doped Carbon Dots: a Nano‐booster for Enhancing ORR Electrocatalytic Performance of 3D Graphene Networks
Ceren Karaman
Abstract
Abstract Herein, nitrogen, sulfur co‐doped carbon dots (N,S−CDs) have been synthesized by a cost‐natural fabrication method using waste orange‐peel as a natural‐carbon‐precursor. N,S−CDs have been hydrothermally anchored to the three‐dimensional‐graphene‐networks (3D−GNs) to boost the electrocatalytic activity by a defective surface effect. Due to the synergistic utilization of heteroatoms, and effective mass‐transfer and improved transport kinetics resulting from interconnected 3D‐architecture, N,S−CDs anchored 3D−GNs (N,S−CDs@3D−GNs) grant superior oxygen‐reduction‐reaction (ORR) activity. N,S−CDs@3D−GNs exhibit a dominant four‐electron pathway ( n=3.89 ) for ORR in alkaline media besides superior methanol tolerance and robust stability. This work opens a door for converting low‐value agricultural wastes into value‐added materials for utilizing in energy application.