Electrocatalysis of oxygen reduction on multi-walled carbon nanotube supported copper and manganese phthalocyanines in alkaline media

Abstract

Manganese phthalocyanine (MnPc) and copper phthalocyanine (CuPc)-modified electrodes were prepared using multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) as a support material. The catalyst materials were heat treated at four different temperatures to investigate the effect of pyrolysis on the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) activity of these electrocatalysts. The MWCNT to metal phthalocyanine ratio was varied. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was employed to visualise the surface morphology of the electrodes and the x-ray photoelectron spectroscopic (XPS) study was carried out to analyse the surface composition of the most active catalyst materials. The ORR was studied in 0.1 M KOH solution employing the rotating disk electrode (RDE) method. Glassy carbon (GC) electrodes were modified with carbon nanotube-supported metal phthalocyanine catalysts using Tokuyama AS-4 ionomer. The RDE results revealed that the highest electrocatalytic activity for ORR was achieved upon heat treatment at 800°C. CuPc-derived catalyst demonstrated lower catalytic activity as compared to the MnPc-derived counterpart, which is in good agreement with previous literature, whereas the activity of MnPc-based catalyst was higher than that reported earlier.

Pd@SmMn2O5 as an Efficient Oxygen Reduction Reaction Catalyst via Triggering the Synergistic Effect between Dual Crystal Fields in Mullite

“…Specifically, the Mn-based electrocatalyst family includes the binary oxides (MnO, MnO 2 , Mn 2 O 3 , Mn 3 O 4 , and MnO x ); γ-MnOOH; perovskite-type, spinel-type, pyrochlore-type oxides; and manganese phthalocyanine, which have been widely applied in the energy storage/conversion fields such as metal–air batteries [oxygen redox reaction (ORR) and oxygen evolution reaction (OER)] and pseudocapacitors. By compositing with carbon-based materials, the electronic structures and electrical conductivity of the Mn-based catalysts could be further modified; for example, the optimum metallophthalocyanine to multi-walled carbon nanotube mass ratio is crucial to design the ORR catalyst with higher activity and stability …”

Bimetal Phthalocyanine‐Modified Carbon Nanotube‐Based Bifunctional Catalysts for Zinc‐Air Batteries

“…[13][14][15][16][17][18][19][20][21][22][23][24] Among numerous non-precious metal catalysts, it has been established that the transition metal and nitrogen co-doped nanocarbon (MÀ NÀ C) catalysts are promising candidates for ORR due to the synergetic effects of metal and nitrogen in addition to the graphitic and porous structure of carbon. [25][26][27][28][29][30] For OER, transition metal oxides are good replacement for state-of-the-art IrO 2 and RuO 2 catalysts. [31] Further, these type of catalysts are economically favourable due to their low cost and earth-abundant precursors.…”

“…Among numerous non‐precious metal catalysts, it has been established that the transition metal and nitrogen co‐doped nanocarbon (M−N−C) catalysts are promising candidates for ORR due to the synergetic effects of metal and nitrogen in addition to the graphitic and porous structure of carbon [25–30] . For OER, transition metal oxides are good replacement for state‐of‐the‐art IrO 2 and RuO 2 catalysts [31] .…”

The joint effect of electrical conductivity and surface oxygen functionalities of carbon supports on the oxygen reduction reaction studied over bare supports and Mn–Co spinel/carbon catalysts in alkaline media

“…silver, nickel), and nitrogen co-doped carbons have been investigated and used as the ORR catalysts. [16][17][18][19][20][21][22][23][24] Transition metal oxides (TMOs) of spinel structure are commonly applied as catalysts for the ORR in AEMFCs. Numerous TMOs exhibit satisfactory catalytic activity in the ORR and the oxygen evolution reaction (OER) with the advantages of being inexpensive, naturally abundant, and environmentally benign.…”