Iron(II) phthalocyanine (FePc) over carbon support for oxygen reduction reaction electrocatalysts operating in alkaline electrolyte

• Published in: Journal of solid state electrochemistry Vol. 25; no. 1; pp. 93 - 104
• Main Authors: de Oliveira, Maida Aysla Costa, Ficca, Valerio C. A., Gokhale, Rohan, Santoro, Carlo, Mecheri, Barbara, D’Epifanio, Alessandra, Licoccia, Silvia, Atanassov, Plamen
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Berlin/Heidelberg Springer Berlin Heidelberg 01.01.2021; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Analytical Chemistry; Carbon; Carbon nanotubes; Characterization and Evaluation of Materials; Chemistry; Chemistry and Materials Science; Condensed Matter Physics; Electrocatalysts; Electrochemical analysis; Electrochemistry; Energy Storage; Iron; Metal phthalocyanines; Morphology; Original Paper; Oxygen reduction reactions; Physical Chemistry; Rotating disks; Surface properties; X ray photoelectron spectroscopy; PGM-free catalyst; Alkaline media; Morphology; RRDE
• ISSN: 1432-8488; 1433-0768
• DOI: 10.1007/s10008-020-04537-x

In this work, we initially report a detailed advancement in the utilization of metal-N 4 chelate macrocycles in the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR). Then, iron(II) phthalocyanines supported on two different carbon-based supports specifically carbon nanotube and black pearl (carbon spheres) were synthesized and their activities toward ORR in alkaline media were studied. With the help of physical and surface characterization like Raman, BET, XRD, XPS, and electron microscopy analysis, the similarity in surface chemistry and surface area of the materials and the differences in the structure and morphology of the supports were established. This work also brings forth the effect of support properties on the electrocatalytic activity of the materials by a detailed electrochemical analysis using rotating disk electrode in oxygen saturated 0.1 M KOH. Comparison with existing literature on Fe-phthalocyanine supported on diverse carbon support is presented.