On the Electrocatalysis of the Oxygen Reduction in Acid Electrolyte

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Abstract
Considerable electrocatalytic activity for the oxygen reduction in acid electrolytes (HClO4, H2SO4) was obtained with heat treated polypyrrole prepared by anodic polymerization on a carbon substrate‐containing Co and Fe as transition metal ions, comparable to that for Pt loaded electrodes. Apart from structural effects (increase of active area) the activity is attributed to N4‐coordinated transition metal species formed in the pyrolysis process. The electrode performance significantly depends on the nature of the metal ions and temp. of the heat treatment.—A cathodic reaction order of +1 with respect to O2(po2) indicates a mechanism avoiding the formation of peroxide in a potential range in which charge transfer is the rate controlling step. Promising results were obtained in extended time tests up to 400 hrs at 60°C.

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