Heteroatom-doped carbon electrocatalysts prepared from marine biomass cellulose nanocrystals and bio-inspired polydopamine for the oxygen reduction reaction

The sluggish kinetics of the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) requires highly effective and stable electrocatalysts to boost the reaction. However, conventionally used Pt-based catalysts are expensive and suffer from long-term stability. The present work provides some interesting insights into using heteroatom-doped carbon electrocatalysts prepared from marine biomass cellulose nanocrystals as potential electrocatalysts for an efficient ORR. The proposed simplistic approach provides a substantial synthetic platform for applying an easily obtained bio-derived highly crystalline cellulose material to energy conversion and storage systems. Heteroatom-doped carbon electrocatalysts were prepared from marine biomass cellulose nanocrystals as potential electrocatalysts for an efficient oxygen reduction reaction.