Characterization of different plasma-treated cobalt oxide catalysts for oxygen reduction reaction in alkaline media

Science Bulletin - Tập 61 - Trang 612-618 - 2016
Lisa M. Uhlig1,2, Gustav Sievers3, Volker Brüser3, Alexander Dyck1, Gunther Wittstock2
1NEXT ENERGY, EWE-Research Centre for Energy Technology, Oldenburg, Germany
2Faculty of Mathematics and Science, CIS - Center of Interface Science, Institute of Chemistry, Carl von Ossietzky University of Oldenburg, Oldenburg, Germany
3Leibniz Institute for Plasma Science and Technology, Greifswald, Germany

Tóm tắt

Plasma-synthesized cobalt oxide supported on carbon has been analyzed for its use for electrocatalytic oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) in alkaline anion exchange membrane fuel cells (AEMFC). This work presents the ORR activity in 0.1 mol L−1 KOH and 0.1 mol L−1 K2CO3 at 25 °C. Cyclic voltammetry (CV) was used to determine the potentials at which the ORR occurs and to evaluate the stability of catalyst. Moreover, a rotating ring-disk electrode (RRDE) was used to investigate the activity of the catalysts and the formation of the by-product hydroperoxide anion (HO2 −) as well as to identify the preferred pathway of the ORR. Calculated kinetic parameters for the ORR for the cobalt catalysts are shown in this work together with a comparison to a commercial platinum catalyst. However, the cobalt oxide produced more by-products which could lead to damage of the membrane in a fuel cell through a radical attack of the polymer backbone.

Tài liệu tham khảo

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