Transition metal-nitrogen-carbon catalysts for oxygen reduction reaction in neutral electrolyte

Atanassov, Plamen; Rojas-Carbonell, Santiago; Serov, Alexey; Santoro, Carlo

Abstract

© 2016 The Authors Platinum group metal-free (PGM-free) catalysts based on M-N-C types of materials with M as Mn, Fe, Co and Ni and aminoantipyrine (AAPyr) as N-C precursors were synthesized using sacrificial support method. Catalysts kinetics of oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) was studied using rotating ring disk electrode (RRDE) in neutral pH. Results showed that performances were distributed among the catalysts as: Fe-AAPyr>Co-AAPyr>Mn-AAPyr>Ni-AAPyr. Fe-AAPyr had the highest onset potential and half-wave potential. All the materials showed similar limiting current. Fe-AAPyr had an electron transfer involving 4e− with peroxide formed lower than 5%. Considering H2O2 produced, it seems that Co-AAPyr, Mn-AAPyr and Ni-AAPyr follow a 2×2e− mechanism with peroxide formed during the intermediate step. Durability test was done on Fe-AAPyr for 10,000cycles. Decrease of activity was observed only after 10,000cycles.

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Dec 16, 2016
• Publication Date: Feb 1, 2017
• Deposit Date: Apr 20, 2018
• Publicly Available Date: May 2, 2018
• Journal: Electrochemistry Communications
• Print ISSN: 1388-2481
• Publisher: Elsevier
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 75
• Pages: 38-42
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.elecom.2016.12.011
• Keywords: ORR, PGM-free, current production, electron transfer, neutral pH
• Public URL: https://uwe-repository.worktribe.com/output/904498
• Publisher URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.elecom.2016.12.011
• Contract Date: Apr 20, 2018