Chemical Research in Chinese Universities ›› 2021, Vol. 37 ›› Issue (3): 379-393.doi: 10.1007/s40242-021-1123-5

• Review • Previous Articles     Next Articles

Functional Electrospun Nanocomposites for Efficient Oxygen Reduction Reaction

ZHANG Xiuling1,2,3, GUO Shiquan1,2,3, QIN Yue1,2,3, LI Congju1,2,3   

  1. 1. School of Energy and Environmental Engineering, University of Science and Technology Beijing, Beijing 100083, P. R. China;
    2. Beijing Key Laboratory of Resource-oriented Treatment of Industrial Pollutants, Beijing 100083, P. R. China;
    3. Energy Conservation and Environmental Protection Engineering Research Center in Universities of Beijing, Beijing 100083, P. R. China
  • Received:2021-03-15 Revised:2021-04-07 Online:2021-06-01 Published:2021-05-08
  • Contact: LI Congju E-mail:congjuli@126.com
  • Supported by:
    This work was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Nos.51973015 and 21274006), the Postdoctoral Science Foundation of China(No.2019M660019), the Beijing Natural Science Foundation, China(No.2202029), the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities of China(Nos.06500100 and FRF-TP-19-046AIZ), the Beijing Youth Talent Promotion Project, China, the "Ten Thousand Plan"-National High-level Personnel of Special Support Program, China, the National Environmental and Energy Science and Technology International Cooperation Base, China, and the China Association Excellent Youth for Communication Project.

Abstract: Electrospinning with a simple and controllable process has extremely received considerable concerns by virtue of the fabrication and development of nanofibers. Moreover, nanofibers are playing an increasing impact on energy conversion and storage devices, especially for fuel cells based on oxygen reduction reaction(ORR), in view of the rich porosity, large surface area, excellent mass transportation and simply tunable composition, as well as good mechanical strength. In this review, we mainly introduce the primary principle of electrospinning technique, electrochemical reaction mechanism of ORR and synthetic strategies, and summarize the recent advances of unique non-noble-metal nanofibers on the basis of metal-organic framework(MOF) derivatives, single-atom catalysts(SACs) and transition metal oxides. More importantly, we emphasize on the influences of the components, morphology and architecture of advanced electrospun catalysts on their correspon-ding electrochemical performances towards ORR. Finally, the remaining puzzles and perspectives for further development of the electrospinning nanofibers involving electrocatalysis are presented. It is envisioned that this review would offer an important direction in designing novel electrocatalysts based on electrospinning nanofibrous structures and developing their potential.

Key words: Electrospinning, Electrocatalyst, Nanofibrous structure, Oxygen reduction reaction