Fe/Co/CaN nanocatalysts for oxygen reduction reaction synthesized by directly pyrolyzing Fe/Co-doped polyaniline

• Published in: Journal of materials science Vol. 49; no. 2; pp. 729 - 736
• Main Authors: Yi, Qingfeng, Zhang, Yuhui, Liu, Xiaoping, Xiang, Bailin, Yang, Yahui
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: 01-01-2014
• Subjects: Catalysis; Catalysts; Cobalt; Iron; Media; Nanostructure; Polyanilines; Reduction
• ISSN: 0022-2461; 1573-4803
• DOI: 10.1007/s10853-013-7754-2

Development of precious metal-free catalysts for oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) is of great significance for the practical application of fuel cells. In this article, we report the finding that the CaN composites containing Fe and/or Co (CaPANI, Fe/CaPANI, Co/CaPANI, and FeCo/CaPANI), produced by directly pyrolyzing the Fe- and/or Co-doped polyaniline (PANI) precursors, show efficient electroactivity for ORR both in acidic and in alkaline media. Among the prepared catalysts, Fe/CaPANI and Co/CaPANI present the most positive ORR onset potential that is 0.61 V (vs. SCE) in 0.5 mol La1 H2SO4 solution or a0.1 V (vs. SCE) in 1 mol La1 NaOH solution. In addition, the Fe/CaPANI catalyst shows the largest limiting-diffusion current density for ORR both in acidic and in alkaline media. A four-electron reaction of ORR on the Fe/CaPANI and Co/CaPANI catalysts is more dominant than a two-electron reaction. Fe/CaPANI catalyst also presents good electrocatalytic activity stability for ORR both in acidic and in alkaline media.