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

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

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

97 Scopus citations

Abstract

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 10,000 cycles. Decrease of activity was observed only after 10,000 cycles.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)38-42
Number of pages5
JournalElectrochemistry Communications
Volume75
DOIs
StatePublished - Feb 1 2017
Externally publishedYes

Funding

This work was supported by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation (OPP1139954).

Keywords

  • Current production
  • Electron transfer
  • Neutral pH
  • ORR
  • PGM-free

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