@article { ISI:000330779900044,
	title = {Synthesis of an efficient heteroatom-doped carbon electro-catalyst for oxygen reduction reaction by pyrolysis of protein-rich pulse flour cooked with SiO2 nanoparticles},
	journal = {Physical Chemistry Chemical Physics},
	volume = {16},
	number = {9},
	year = {2014},
	month = {JAN},
	pages = {4251-4259},
	publisher = {ROYAL SOC CHEMISTRY},
	address = {THOMAS GRAHAM HOUSE, SCIENCE PARK, MILTON RD, CAMBRIDGE CB4 0WF, CAMBS, ENGLAND},
	abstract = {<p>Development of a highly durable, fuel-tolerant, metal-free electro-catalyst for oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) is essential for robust and cost-effective Anion Exchange Membrane Fuel Cells (AEMFCs). Herein, we report the development of a nitrogen-doped (N-doped) hierarchically porous carbon-based efficient ORR electrocatalyst from protein-rich pulses. The process involves 3D silica nanoparticle templating of the pulse flour(s) followed by their double pyrolysis. The detailed experiments are performed on gram flour (derived from chickpeas) without any in situ/ex situ addition of dopants. The N-doped porous carbon thus generated shows remarkable electrocatalytic activity towards ORR in the alkaline medium. The oxygen reduction on this material follows the desired 4-electron transfer mechanism involving the direct reduction pathway. Additionally, the synthesized carbon catalyst also exhibits good electrochemical stability and fuel tolerance. The results are also obtained and compared with the case of soybean flour having higher nitrogen content to highlight the significance of different parameters in the ORR catalyst performance.</p>},
	issn = {1463-9076},
	doi = {10.1039/c3cp55396e},
	author = {Gokhale, Rohan and Unni, SreeKuttan M. and Puthusseri, Dhanya and Kurungot, Sreekumar and Ogale, Satishchandra}
}
@article { ISI:000349667700031,
	title = {Surface-modified single wall carbon nanohorn as an effective electrocatalyst for platinum-free fuel cell cathodes},
	journal = {Journal of Materials Chemistry A},
	volume = {3},
	number = {8},
	year = {2015},
	month = {JAN},
	pages = {4361-4367},
	publisher = {ROYAL SOC CHEMISTRY},
	address = {THOMAS GRAHAM HOUSE, SCIENCE PARK, MILTON RD, CAMBRIDGE CB4 0WF, CAMBS, ENGLAND},
	abstract = {<p>Platinum (Pt) and its alloys are routinely used in the cathodes of polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs) due to their high electrocatalytic activity in oxygen reduction reactions (ORRs). A variety of alternative materials have been examined as alternatives to Pt, but most of these had low activity and their performance deteriorated even further in use. In the present study an alternate electrocatalyst has been examined, obtained by a simple surface modification of single-walled carbon nanohorns by simultaneous doping with Fe and N at 900 degrees C (FeNCNH-900). This had an ORR activity superior to that of 40 wt\% Pt on carbon (Pt/C). Compared to Pt/C, FeNCNH-900 gave a 30 mV improvement in onset potential and a 20 mV gain in half-wave potential in an ORR. Its high activity is the result of the simultaneous modulation achieved by the high surface area and the microporosity of carbon nanohorns, together with the establishment of the desired nitrogen-iron coordinated pyrrolic active centres. The catalyst showed excellent electrochemical stability and, most notably, its ORR activity was still increasing after 1000 cycles. Single-cell fuel cell performance using FeNCNH-900 as cathode catalyst showed a maximum power density of 35 mW cm(-2) under alkaline conditions.</p>},
	issn = {2050-7488},
	doi = {10.1039/c4ta05092d},
	author = {Unni, SreeKuttan M. and Ramadas, Sarath and Illathvalappil, Rajith and Bhange, Siddheshwar N. and Kurungot, Sreekumar}
}
