Spinel Nanocrystals on Graphene

Researchers in Prof. Hongjie Dai's laboratory have developed nanocarbon/inorganic nanoparticle hybrid materials for various electrocatalytic and electrochemical applications, such as batteries and fuel cells. Three types of hybrid materials have been created:

1) Nanocrystals on Graphene Nanoplates or Nanorods:

- Designed for use as electrodes in energy storage and conversion devices.
- Demonstrated high specific capacitance in pseudocapacitor materials, such as Ni(OH)2 nanocrystals grown on graphene sheets.
- Showed excellent cycling ability and performance at different charge and discharge current densities.

2) Nanocrystals on Reduced Graphene Oxide:

- Created high-performance, bi-functional catalysts for oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) and oxygen evolution reaction (OER).
- Examples include Mn3O4 on reduced graphene oxide for high-capacity anodes in lithium-ion batteries.
- Co3O4/N-doped graphene exhibited catalytic activity similar to platinum but with superior stability in alkaline solutions.

3) Carbon Nanotube-Graphene Complexes:

- Used for ORR catalysts with high activity and stability.
- Demonstrated high ORR activity in both acidic and alkaline solutions, approaching the performance of platinum.

For more information, please see related docket S09-371.

Stage of Development:
The technology has been applied in various devices with promising results