Conducting Copper(I/II)-Metallopolymer for the Electrocatalytic Oxygen Reduction Reaction (ORR) with High Kinetic Current Density
The oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) is still the most research-intensive aspect of a fuel cell. The sluggish kinetics of the electrocatalysts toward the ORR requires large amounts of platinum to be used as cathode material, which calls for alternatives to replace or minimize the amount of the noble...
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doaj-583228846bd94c45b5ebff7158d77bba2020-11-25T00:56:34ZengMDPI AGPolymers2073-43602018-09-01109100210.3390/polym10091002polym10091002Conducting Copper(I/II)-Metallopolymer for the Electrocatalytic Oxygen Reduction Reaction (ORR) with High Kinetic Current DensitySait Elmas0Wesley Beelders1Xun Pan2Thomas Nann3Institute for Nanoscale Science & Technology, Flinders University, Bedford Park SA 5042, AustraliaFuture Industries Institute, University of South Australia, Mawson Lakes SA 5095, AustraliaInstitute for Nanoscale Science & Technology, Flinders University, Bedford Park SA 5042, AustraliaSchool of Chemical and Physical Sciences, Victoria University of Wellington, Wellington 6420, New ZealandThe oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) is still the most research-intensive aspect of a fuel cell. The sluggish kinetics of the electrocatalysts toward the ORR requires large amounts of platinum to be used as cathode material, which calls for alternatives to replace or minimize the amount of the noble metals used. This study describes the synthesis and complete characterization of a copper metallopolymer (Cu MP) based on a conducting polymer (CP) and single-site catalytic centers for the electrocatalytic ORR. The copper (II) catalyst, embedded in a redox-active and conducting polymeric environment, was pursued as a potential candidate to replace noble metals in fuel cell applications. Performance studies at a rotating disk electrode (RDE) showed that the metallopolymer exhibited a direct four-electron reduction at potentials between −150 and −350 mV vs. the reversible hydrogen electrode (RHE) and high kinetic current densities of over 22.62 mA/cm2. The kinetic current densities obtained at the Cu MP electrode outperformed most of the reported state-of-the art electrocatalysts toward the ORR. Further analysis of the Cu/CP hybrid revealed the copper being largely reduced to the oxidation state +I.http://www.mdpi.com/2073-4360/10/9/1002oxygen reduction reactionORRelectrocatalystcoppermetallopolymerhydroquinonekinetic current densityfuel cells |
collection |
DOAJ |
language |
English |
format |
Article |
sources |
DOAJ |
author |
Sait Elmas Wesley Beelders Xun Pan Thomas Nann |
spellingShingle |
Sait Elmas Wesley Beelders Xun Pan Thomas Nann Conducting Copper(I/II)-Metallopolymer for the Electrocatalytic Oxygen Reduction Reaction (ORR) with High Kinetic Current Density Polymers oxygen reduction reaction ORR electrocatalyst copper metallopolymer hydroquinone kinetic current density fuel cells |
author_facet |
Sait Elmas Wesley Beelders Xun Pan Thomas Nann |
author_sort |
Sait Elmas |
title |
Conducting Copper(I/II)-Metallopolymer for the Electrocatalytic Oxygen Reduction Reaction (ORR) with High Kinetic Current Density |
title_short |
Conducting Copper(I/II)-Metallopolymer for the Electrocatalytic Oxygen Reduction Reaction (ORR) with High Kinetic Current Density |
title_full |
Conducting Copper(I/II)-Metallopolymer for the Electrocatalytic Oxygen Reduction Reaction (ORR) with High Kinetic Current Density |
title_fullStr |
Conducting Copper(I/II)-Metallopolymer for the Electrocatalytic Oxygen Reduction Reaction (ORR) with High Kinetic Current Density |
title_full_unstemmed |
Conducting Copper(I/II)-Metallopolymer for the Electrocatalytic Oxygen Reduction Reaction (ORR) with High Kinetic Current Density |
title_sort |
conducting copper(i/ii)-metallopolymer for the electrocatalytic oxygen reduction reaction (orr) with high kinetic current density |
publisher |
MDPI AG |
series |
Polymers |
issn |
2073-4360 |
publishDate |
2018-09-01 |
description |
The oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) is still the most research-intensive aspect of a fuel cell. The sluggish kinetics of the electrocatalysts toward the ORR requires large amounts of platinum to be used as cathode material, which calls for alternatives to replace or minimize the amount of the noble metals used. This study describes the synthesis and complete characterization of a copper metallopolymer (Cu MP) based on a conducting polymer (CP) and single-site catalytic centers for the electrocatalytic ORR. The copper (II) catalyst, embedded in a redox-active and conducting polymeric environment, was pursued as a potential candidate to replace noble metals in fuel cell applications. Performance studies at a rotating disk electrode (RDE) showed that the metallopolymer exhibited a direct four-electron reduction at potentials between −150 and −350 mV vs. the reversible hydrogen electrode (RHE) and high kinetic current densities of over 22.62 mA/cm2. The kinetic current densities obtained at the Cu MP electrode outperformed most of the reported state-of-the art electrocatalysts toward the ORR. Further analysis of the Cu/CP hybrid revealed the copper being largely reduced to the oxidation state +I. |
topic |
oxygen reduction reaction ORR electrocatalyst copper metallopolymer hydroquinone kinetic current density fuel cells |
url |
http://www.mdpi.com/2073-4360/10/9/1002 |
work_keys_str_mv |
AT saitelmas conductingcopperiiimetallopolymerfortheelectrocatalyticoxygenreductionreactionorrwithhighkineticcurrentdensity AT wesleybeelders conductingcopperiiimetallopolymerfortheelectrocatalyticoxygenreductionreactionorrwithhighkineticcurrentdensity AT xunpan conductingcopperiiimetallopolymerfortheelectrocatalyticoxygenreductionreactionorrwithhighkineticcurrentdensity AT thomasnann conductingcopperiiimetallopolymerfortheelectrocatalyticoxygenreductionreactionorrwithhighkineticcurrentdensity |
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1725226640200433664 |