Here, we report the synthesis and characterization of crystalline C₆₀ nanomaterials and their applications as bifunctional water splitting catalysts. The shapes of the resulting materials were tuned via a solvent engineering approach to form rhombic-shaped nanosheets and nanotubes with hexagonal close packed-crystal structures. The as-synthesized materials exhibited suitable properties as bifunctional catalysts for HER and ORR reactions surpassing by far the electrocatalytic activity of commercially available amorphous C₆₀. The C₆₀ nanotubes displayed the most efficient catalytic performance with a small onset potential of −0.13 V vs. RHE and ultrahigh electrochemical stability properties towards the generation of molecular hydrogen. Additionally, the rotating-disk electrode measurements revealed that the oxygen reduction mechanism at the nanotube electrochemical surfaces followed an effective four-electron pathway. The improved catalytic activity was attributed to the enhanced local electric fields at the high curvature surfaces.

中文翻译：

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C60纳米材料的简便合成及其在高效水分解电催化中的应用

在这里，我们报告晶体C ₆₀纳米材料的合成和表征及其作为双功能水分解催化剂的应用。通过溶剂工程方法调节所得材料的形状，以形成菱形纳米片和具有六方密堆积晶体结构的纳米管。合成后的材料作为HER和ORR反应的双功能催化剂具有合适的性能，远远超过了市售无定形C ₆₀的电催化活性。C ₆₀纳米管表现出最有效的催化性能，起始电位为-0.13V 。RHE和超高电化学稳定性能对分子氢的产生。此外，转盘电极的测量结果表明，纳米管电化学表面的氧还原机理遵循有效的四电子路径。改善的催化活性归因于高曲率表面处增强的局部电场。