Electrocatalytic Activity of Ionic-Liquid-Derived Porous Carbon Materials for the Oxygen Reduction Reaction

Abstract

Carbon materials, prepared by using different methods with ionicliquids, are compared as electrocatalysts for the oxygen reductionreaction (ORR). Materials were synthesized through the hydrothermalcarbonization of glucose and by using the same method in the presence of1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium methanesulfonate {[}bmim]{[}MeSO3] as anadditive. Another two carbon-based materials were prepared by usingionic-liquid-based methods: ionothermal carbonization of glucose using{[}bmim]{[}MeSO3] as a recyclable medium for the carbonization reactionand by direct carbonization of the ionic liquid in a one-step methodusing {[}bmim]{[}MeSO3] as the precursor for N- and S-doped porouscarbon (Carb-IL). Characterization results showed the possibility ofmorphology and porosity control by using {[}bmim]{[}MeSO3]. Allmaterials were subsequently tested for the ORR in alkaline media.Carb-IL showed enhanced and stable electrocatalytic ORR activity, evenin the presence of methanol, ethanol, and borohydride, opening thepossibility for its application in fuel cells.