Synthesis of size-controlled CoMn2O4 quantum dots supported on carbon nanotubes for electrocatalytic oxygen reduction/evolution

A combined hot-injection and heat-up method was developed to synthesize monodisperse and uniform CoMn2O4 quantum dots （CMO QDs）.CMO QDs with average size of 2.0,3.9,and 5.4 nm were selectively obtained at 80,90,and 105 ℃,respectively.The CMO QDs supported on carbon nanotubes （CNTs） were employed as catalysts for the oxygen reduction/evolution reaction （ORR/OER） in alkaline solution to investigate their size-performance relationship.The results revealed that the amount of surface-adsorbed oxygen and the band gap energy,which affect the charge transfer in the oxygen electrocatalysis processes,strongly depend on the size of the CMO QDs.The CMO-3.9/CNT hybrid,consisting of CNT-supported CMO QDs of 3.9 nm size,possesses a moderate amount of surfaceadsorbed oxygen,a lower band gap energy,and a larger charge carrier concentration,and exhibits the highest electrocatalytic activity among the hybrid materials investigated.Moreover,the CMO-3.9/CNT hybrid displays ORR and OER performances similar to those of the benchmark Pt/C and RuO2 catalysts,respectively,due to the strong carbon-oxide interactions and the high dispersion of CoMn2O4 QDs on the carbon substrate;this reveals the huge potential of the CMO-3.9/CNT hybrid as a bifunctional OER/ORR electrocatalyst.The present results highlight the importance of controlling the size of metal oxide nanodots in the design of active oxygen electrocatalysts based on spinel-type,nonprecious metal oxides.