@article {49367,
	title = {Aluminium, nitrogen-dual-doped reduced graphene oxide Co-existing with cobalt-encapsulated graphitic carbon nanotube as an activity modulated electrocatalyst for oxygen electrocatalyst for oxygen electrochemistry applications},
	journal = {Small},
	volume = {20},
	year = {2024},
	month = {AUG},
	type = {Article},
	abstract = {<p>
	There is a rising need to create high-performing, affordable electrocatalysts in the new field of oxygen electrochemistry. Here, a cost-effective, activity-modulated electrocatalyst with the capacity to trigger both the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) and the oxygen evolution reaction (OER) in an alkaline environment is presented. The catalyst (Al, Co/N-rGCNT) is made up of aluminium, nitrogen-dual-doped reduced graphene oxide sheets co-existing with cobalt-encapsulated carbon nanotube units. Based on X-ray Absorption Spectroscopy (XAS) studies, it is established that the superior reaction kinetics in Al, Co/N-rGCNT over their bulk counterparts can be attributed to their electronic regulation. The Al, Co/N-rGCNT performs as a versatile bifunctional electrocatalyst for zinc-air battery (ZAB), delivering an open circuit potential approximate to 1.35 V and peak power density of 106.3 mW cm-2, which are comparable to the system based on Pt/C. The Al, Co/N-rGCNT-based system showed a specific capacity of 737 mAh gZn-1 compared to 696 mAh gZn-1 delivered by the system based on Pt/C. The DFT calculations indicate that the adsorption of Co in the presence of Al doping in NGr improves the electronic properties favoring ORR. Thus, the Al, Co/N-rGCNT-based rechargeable ZAB (RZAB) emerges as a highly viable and affordable option for the development of RZAB for practical applications. This manuscript reports the development of a new bifunctional catalyst that exhibits high activity and stability under practical operating conditions. The catalyst (Al, Co/N-rGCNT) is made up of aluminium, nitrogen-dual-doped reduced graphene oxide sheets co-existing with the in situ formed cobalt-encapsulated CNT units is synthesized by a scalable pyrolysis method in an inert Ar atmosphere. The developed electrocatalyst achieved enhanced the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) and the oxygen evolution reaction OER activity as a result of the favorable synergistic modulations and the system can serve as a process-friendly air-electrode for rechargeable zinc-air battery (RZAB). image</p>
},
	keywords = {Al, Bifunctional catalyst, DFT study, encapsulated structure, N-dual doping, Oxygen Evolution Reaction, oxygen reduction reaction, rechargeable zinc-air battery, X-ray absorption spectroscopy},
	issn = {1613-6810},
	doi = {10.1002/smll.202400012},
	author = {Kharabe, Geeta Pandurang and Barik, Sidharth and Veeranmaril, Sudheesh Kumar and Nair, Aathira and Illathvalappil, Rajith and Yoyakki, Athira and Joshi, Kavita and Vinod, Chathakudath Prabhakaran and Kurungot, Sreekumar}
}
@article {49504,
	title = {Pt-based 3D electrocatalyst with process-friendly features for PEMFCs possessing fast activation and improved mass-transfer properties},
	journal = {Advanced Sustainable Systems},
	volume = {9},
	year = {2025},
	month = {APR},
	type = {Article},
	abstract = {<p>
	Polymer-electrolyte-membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs) face the challenges like slow oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) kinetics and limited mass transport at high current densities, which affects their performance. The efficient water removal from the cathode is essential to improve oxygen diffusion. Addressing this, a catalyst is presented with platinum (Pt) nanoparticles distributed within a 3D carbon network (Pt/3DPDC) derived from the polydopamine-coated melamine foam. This unique architecture enhances Pt utilization and water management due to its high porosity and ample free spaces, providing a process-friendly feature for the electrode under PEMFC conditions. The pores and accessible texture of the 3D polydopamine derived carbon (3DPDC) framework facilitate ionomer uptake during the electrode fabrication, extending the active triple-phase boundary and improving the membrane electrode assembly (MEA) performance. The high porosity of Pt/3DPDC is mitigated by adding a small amount of commercial fuel cell catalayst (Pt/C), which maintains the effective catalyst number density per unit area by utilizing the excess porosity of the 3DPDC framework. This controlled interplay of the unique catalyst structure and spatially confined distribution of Pt/C within the Pt/3DPDC framework offers fast activation, reduced electrode flooding, and improved current densities across the operating potential window. This carefully engineered catalyst, designed through bottom-up strategies, is a promising electrocatalyst for practical PEMFC applications.</p>
},
	keywords = {Oxygen Evolution Reaction, oxygen reduction reaction, rechargeable flexible zinc-air battery},
	issn = {2366-7486},
	doi = {10.1002/adsu.202400904},
	author = {Pandikassala, Ajmal and Nadumattuvayil, Varsha and Singh, Mayank U. and Jadhav, Swapnil D. and Yoyakki, Athira and Kurungot, Sreekumar}
}
