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    2D-hexagonal boron nitride screen-printed bulk-modified electrochemical platforms explored towards oxygen reduction reactions

    Khan, AF, Ferrari, AGM, Hughes, JP, Smith, GC, Banks, CE and Rowley-Neale, SJ (2022) 2D-hexagonal boron nitride screen-printed bulk-modified electrochemical platforms explored towards oxygen reduction reactions. Sensors, 22 (9). p. 3330. ISSN 1424-8220

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    Abstract

    A low-cost, scalable and reproducible approach for the mass production of screen-printed electrode (SPE) platforms that have varying percentage mass incorporations of 2D hexagonal boron nitride (2D-hBN) (2D-hBN/SPEs) is demonstrated herein. These novel 2D-hBN/SPEs are explored as a potential metal-free electrocatalysts towards oxygen reduction reactions (ORRs) within acidic media where their performance is evaluated. A 5% mass incorporation of 2D-hBN into the SPEs resulted in the most beneficial ORR catalysis, reducing the ORR onset potential by ca. 200 mV in comparison to bare/unmodified SPEs. Furthermore, an increase in the achievable current of 83% is also exhibited upon the utilisation of a 2D-hBN/SPE in comparison to its unmodified equivalent. The screen-printed fabrication approach replaces the less-reproducible and time-consuming drop-casting technique of 2D-hBN and provides an alternative approach for the large-scale manufacture of novel electrode platforms that can be utilised in a variety of applications.

    Item Type: Article
    Peer-reviewed: Yes
    Date Deposited: 26 Jul 2022 13:23
    Publisher: MDPI
    Additional Information: This is an Open Access article which appeared in Sensors, published by MDPI. This article belongs to the Special Issue Screen-Printed Sensors
    Divisions: Faculties > Science and Engineering
    Research Centres > Advanced Materials and Surface Engineering
    Subject terms: Science & Technology, Physical Sciences, Technology, Chemistry, Analytical, Engineering, Electrical & Electronic, Instruments & Instrumentation, Chemistry, Engineering, boron nitride, screen-printed electrodes (SPEs), electrochemistry, oxygen reduction reaction (ORR), EFFICIENT ELECTROCATALYST, GRAPHENE, ELECTRODES, GOLD, NANOSHEETS, CARBON, WATER, DEPENDENCE, CATALYST, Boron Compounds, Oxygen, Electrodes, Electrochemical Techniques, boron nitride, electrochemistry, oxygen reduction reaction (ORR), screen-printed electrodes (SPEs), Boron Compounds, Electrochemical Techniques, Electrodes, Oxygen, 0301 Analytical Chemistry, 0502 Environmental Science and Management, 0602 Ecology, 0805 Distributed Computing, 0906 Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Analytical Chemistry
    Data Access Statement: The following supporting information can be downloaded at: https://www.mdpi.com/article/10.3390/s22093330/s1. Figure S1. (A) A typical Raman spectra obtained for the commercially procured 2D-hBN immobilised upon a supporting silicon wafer. (B) Typical TEM images of the 2D-hBN deposited onto a holey carbon film supported upon a Cu TEM grid. Scale bars are 200 nm. Images obtained using a 200 kV primary beam under bright-field conditions. (C) XRD spectra of the 2D-hBN, exhibiting characteristic peaks at 26.7°, 41.56° and 44.38°. Figure S2. (A) Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) image of the pristine 2D-hBN powder on a Si wafer utilised to fabricate the 2D-hBN/SPEs studied herein. (B) Energy Dispersive X-Ray Spectroscopy (EDS) composition analysis of a 2D-hBN flake. This is a representative image obtained from ‘batch characterisation’ of the samples that have been previously utilised in Ref. [48]. Figure S3. (A) X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) analysis of the pristine 2D-hBN powder on a Si wafer utilised to fabricate the 2D-hBN/SPEs studied herein. High resolution analysis of the B 1s and N 1s components (B and C respectively). Figure S4. Typical linear sweep voltammograms (LSVs) recorded in an oxygen saturated 0.1 M H2SO4 solution using a macro polycrystalline Pt electrode. Scan rate: 100 mV s−1 (vs. SCE).
    URI: https://e-space.mmu.ac.uk/id/eprint/630146
    DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/s22093330
    ISSN 1424-8220
    e-ISSN 1424-8220

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