Host: The Japan Society of Vacuum and Surface Science
Graphene has been one of the most attractive materials since its discovery, due to the unique structural properties and usefulness in a broad class of applications. Doping graphene with foreign elements has also been investigated to tailor its electronic properties to provide new possibilities for more application. Nitrogen (N) is one of the most frequently studied dopings, in particular, for improving the electrocatalytic activity of oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) in the fuel cell application. It was reported that the intrinsic physico-chemical properties and catalytic reactivity Of N-doping graphene are governed by the N-concentration and its local structures (e.g., graphitic and pyridinic-N). However, the role of the N-doping of graphene in catalytic reaction has not been fully understood. As a first step to fully understand the origin of the electrochemical ORR, it is essential to understand its interaction with water, as it plays a central role.
