Catalysts for oxygen reduction and evolution reactions are at the heart of key renewable-energy technologies including fuel cells and water splitting. Despite tremendous efforts, developing oxygen electrode catalysts with high activity at low cost remains a great challenge. Here, we report a hybrid material consisting of Co₃O₄ nanocrystals grown on reduced graphene oxide as a high-performance bi-functional catalyst for the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) and oxygen evolution reaction (OER). Although Co₃O₄ or graphene oxide alone has little catalytic activity, their hybrid exhibits an unexpected, surprisingly high ORR activity that is further enhanced by nitrogen doping of graphene. The Co₃O₄/N-doped graphene hybrid exhibits similar catalytic activity but superior stability to Pt in alkaline solutions. The same hybrid is also highly active for OER, making it a high-performance non-precious metal-based bi-catalyst for both ORR and OER. The unusual catalytic activity arises from synergetic chemical coupling effects between Co₃O₄ and graphene.

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Co3O4 nanocrystals on graphene as a synergistic catalyst for oxygen reduction reaction

A review on circular economy: the expected transition to a balanced interplay of environmental and economic systems

The circular economy concept has gained momentum both among scholars and practitioners. However, critics claim that it means many different things to different people. This paper provides further evidence for these critics. The aim of this paper is to create transparency regarding the current understandings of the circular economy concept. For this purpose, we have gathered 114 circular economy definitions which were coded on 17 dimensions. Our findings indicate that the circular economy is most frequently depicted as a combination of reduce, reuse and recycle activities, whereas it is oftentimes not highlighted that CE necessitates a systemic shift. We further find that the definitions show few explicit linkages of the circular economy concept to sustainable development. The main aim of the circular economy is considered to be economic prosperity, followed by environmental quality; its impact on social equity and future generations is barely mentioned. Furthermore, neither business models nor consumers are frequently outlined as enablers of the circular economy. We critically discuss the various circular economy conceptualizations throughout this paper. Overall, we hope to contribute via this study towards the coherence of the circular economy concept; we presume that significantly varying circular economy definitions may eventually result in the collapse of the concept.

Conceptualizing the circular economy: An analysis of 114 definitions

Towards circular economy implementation: a comprehensive review in context of manufacturing industry

This review gives a survey on the latest most representative developments and progress concerning ionic liquids, from their fundamental properties to their applications in catalytic processes. It also highlights their emerging use for biomass treatment and transformation.

Ionic liquids and catalysis: Recent progress from knowledge to applications

http://sourcedb.ipe.cas.cn/zw/lwlb/200908/P020090901313481480807.pdf?origin=publication_detail

Room temperature ionic liquids (RTILs): A new and versatile platform for cellulose processing and derivatization

Electrochemical processes for the environmental remediation of toxic Cr(VI): A review

Energy conservation and circular economy in China's process industries

Research and industrialization progress of recovering alumina from fly ash: A concise review

The oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) on a polycrystalline Pt surface was studied using cyclic voltammetry techniques, and the influence of reaction media on the ORR is examined by comparing the ORR in NaOH and KOH solutions with concentration ranging from 0.5 to 14 M at 298 K. The results show that, in NaOH and KOH solutions, the ORR, a quasi-reversible diffusion-controlled reaction, is largely dependent on the electrolyte conditions, and KOH solutions are superior to NaOH solutions for the ORR process in both thermodynamic and kinetic consideration. As the alkaline concentration increases, the ORR performance frustrates, and the protonation of superoxide is suppressed; thus, the ORR shifts from a 2e reduction pathway to a 1e reduction pathway in both solutions.

Yi Zhang

Papers

Room temperature ionic liquids (RTILs): A new and versatile platform for cellulose processing and derivatization

Electrochemical processes for the environmental remediation of toxic Cr(VI): A review

Energy conservation and circular economy in China's process industries

Research and industrialization progress of recovering alumina from fly ash: A concise review

Comparison of the oxygen reduction reaction between NaOH and KOH solutions on a Pt electrode: the electrolyte-dependent effect.