Biomass derived metal free hierarchical porous activated carbon for efficient oxygen evolution reaction

ABSTRACT

The development of high electro-efficient and sustainable metal-free catalysts to replace noble materials is essential for the development of prospective renewable energy conversion and storage systems. Due to its ability to provide clean energy, the oxygen evolution reaction (OER) recently received a lot of interest. Here, we provide an effective “waste to clean energy” concept-based porous-activated carbon from waste rice husk with hierarchical pore architecture for OER. The physicochemical properties of the synthesized activated carbon material were examined by XRD, FESEM, and BET analysis. Characterization of the synthesized activated carbon derived from the rice husk shows a high BET surface area (755 m²/g) with high pore volume. Electro-catalytic performance of the prepared porous-activated carbon has been studied, viz. linear sweep voltammetry, Tafel slope, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, and cyclic voltammetry in 1 M KOH solution. As an electrocatalytic performance in alkaline media, it shows low-onset potential (1.56 V vs. reversible hydrogen electrode), with a small Tafel slope (61 mV/dec), an overpotential (η₁₀) of 0.47 V, low Rct (212 Ω), and good stability toward OER performance even after 500 cycles. Here, we have also reported the effect of electrochemically active surface area and mass activity effect on the OER performance.

GRAPHICAL ABSTRACT

KEYWORDS:

• Biomass
• carbonization
• porous-activated carbon
• electrocatalyst
• oxygen evolution reaction

Acknowledgments

The authors thank SSS-NIBE and the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE), Government of India, for providing research facilities. SKG thanks MNRE, Government of India, for providing fellowship to carry out this research work. DS and RN thank NIT Jalandhar for carrying out the M.Tech course.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Abbreviations & Nomenclature

OER: Oxygen evolution reaction; XRD: X-ray diffraction; FESEM: Field emission scanning electron microscopy; LSV: Linear sweep voltammetry; EIS: Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy; CV: Cyclic voltammetry; CNT: Carbon nanotubes; AC: Activated carbon; HER: Hydrogen evolution reaction; NACS: Nanoporous activated carbon sheets; GS: Graphite sheet; RHE: Reversible hydrogen electrode; C_dl: Double-layer capacitance; ECSA: Electrochemical active surface area; η: Overpotential; R_s: Solution resistance; Rct: Charge transfer resistance

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Sujit Kumar Guchhait

Sujit Kumar Guchhait: Writing - original draft preparation, Writing & editing, conceptualization; DebanjanSutradhar: experimental work, original draft preparation; Rajib Nandi: experimental work, original draft preparation, Anil Kumar Sarma: Conceptualization, Supervision Methodology, Writing & editing, original draft preparation.

Debanjan Sutradhar

Mr Debanjan Sutradhar is an M Tech Project fellow at National Institute of Bio-Energy and Center for Energy and Environment, Dr B R Ambedkar NIT Jalandhar.

Rajib Nandi

Mr Rajib Nandi is an M Tech Project fellow at National Institute of Bio-Energy and Center for Energy and Environment, Dr B R Ambedkar NIT Jalandhar.

Anil Kumar Sarma

Dr Anil Kumar Sarma is a Scientist-E/ Director, Sardar Swaran Singh National Institute of Bio Energy, Kaupurthala, Punjab, India and visiting faculty at Dr B R Ambedkar NIT Jalandhar, India.