Iodine-Doped Graphene for Enhanced Electrocatalytic Oxygen Reduction Reaction in Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cell Applications

Abstract

We prepared iodine-doped graphenes by several techniques (electrophilic substitution and nucleophilic substitution methods) in order to incorporate iodine atoms onto the graphene base materials. The physical characterization of prepared samples was performed by using an array of different techniques, such as scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and electrochemical methods. A series of cathodes using I-doped graphene were prepared and evaluated. Electrochemical performances of the cathodes with and without I-doped graphene indicated an effective improvement, resulting in a better mass transport in the catalyst layer.