Issue 8, 2017

Hybrid PEDOT/MnOx nanostructured electrocatalysts for oxygen reduction

Abstract

A series of hybrid poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene)/manganese oxide (PEDOT/MnOx) thin films have been prepared via a stepwise approach: electrodeposition of PEDOT, followed by formation of MnOx particles by a spontaneous redox reaction between PEDOT and KMnO4. Electrocatalytic characterization of the PEDOT/MnOx thin films demonstrates high activity toward the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR), with a shift in intrinsic ORR onset and half-wave potentials by ca. 0.2 V to lower overpotential relative to the PEDOT thin film. The most active PEDOT/MnOx thin film electrocatalyst, P-MnOx-20, demonstrates superior activity relative to the commercial 20% Pt/C catalyst in the half-wave region of the ORR potential window at equal mass loading, with a half-wave potential of 0.83 V (20% Pt/C, 0.81 V) and charge transfer resistance of 479 Ω (20% Pt/C, 862 Ω). The P-MnOx-20 film also demonstrates preference to a pseudo-four electron ORR pathway (n = 3.8) and high specific ORR activity, when considered on both a total mass (−96 mA mgtotal−1; 20% Pt/C: −108 mA mgtotal−1) and metal (or metal oxide) mass basis (−296 mA mgMnOx−1; 20% Pt/C: −540 mA mgPt−1). The P-MnOx-20 film has been identified as the most active PEDOT/ceramic composite electrocatalyst reported to date, which is rationalized by the high surface concentration of Mn(III), strong electronic coupling between PEDOT and MnOx, as well as a high active site density and efficiency achieved by the stepwise electrodeposition-redox approach.

Graphical abstract: Hybrid PEDOT/MnOx nanostructured electrocatalysts for oxygen reduction

Supplementary files

Article information

Article type
Research Article
Submitted
10 Apr. 2017
Accepted
26 Apr. 2017
First published
05 Maijs 2017

Mater. Chem. Front., 2017,1, 1668-1675

Hybrid PEDOT/MnOx nanostructured electrocatalysts for oxygen reduction

J. A. Vigil, T. N. Lambert, M. Kelly and R. Aidun, Mater. Chem. Front., 2017, 1, 1668 DOI: 10.1039/C7QM00147A

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