Oxygen Reduction Activity of Silk-derived Carbons

概要

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Carbonized silk fibroin (CS), which is free of metallic elements, showed high catalytic activity for oxygen-reduction reaction (ORR). The catalytic activity of CS for ORR was greatly enhanced by steam activation forming silk-derived activated carbon (CS-AC). The surface morphology, surface area, pore structure and remaining nitrogen species of the CSs were compared with those of the CS-ACs. The open-circuit potential and the power density of a polymer electrolyte fuel cell using a CS900-AC, which was heat-treated at 900 degrees C prior to the steam activation, and a platinum/C (C: carbon black) anode under pure oxygen and hydrogen gases, respectively, both at 0.2 MPa, were 0.92 V and 142 mW cm(-2) at 80 degrees C. The ORR on the activated carbon, CS900-AC, proceeded with a 3.5-electron reaction at 0.6V (vs. RHE): however, this was improved to a 3.9-electron reaction with the addition of zirconium oxide at 20 wt% to CS900-AC.