Facile synthesis of hybrid graphene and carbon nanotubes as a metal-free electrocatalyst with active dual interfaces for efficient oxygen reduction reaction

Abstract

We report metal-free electrocatalysts to enhance utilization of dissolved and gaseous oxygen during oxygen reduction reaction (ORR). Proper balance between hydrophobicity and hydrophilicity is achieved using reduced graphene oxide (rGO) and polyelectrolyte functionalized multiwalled carbon nanotubes (pMWNTs). In this unique architecture, both two- and three-phase reactions in ORR can be maximized with a quasi-four-electron pathway.