Carbon nanotube-strapped iron porphyrin hybrids have been synthesized and their electrocatalytic activities for the oxygen reduction reaction have been investigated.

A series of hybrid catalysts for the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) has been investigated. They are composed of multi-wall carbon nanotubes (MWNTs) coated with iron strapped porphyrins. Two porphyrins have been probed; both are strapped with the same skeleton and differ only by the number of overhung carboxylic acid(s), either one or two. In this structure, the carboxylic acid group can act as a proton relay between the medium and the catalyst or as a polar group surrounding the dioxygen binding cavity. While the number of carboxylic acid group(s) does not exhibit a significant influence on the catalytic properties, the combination of both components–MWNTs and porphyrin–leads to a better catalytic activity than those of the nanotubes or the porphyrins taken separately.