Selective electrodesorption based atomic layer deposition (SEBALD) modifications of silver surfaces for enhancing oxygen reduction reaction activity

• Published in: Journal of power sources Vol. 241; pp. 80 - 86
• Main Authors: Innocenti, M., Zangari, G., Zafferoni, C., Bencistà, I., Becucci, L., Lavacchi, A., Di Benedetto, F., Bellandi, S., Vizza, F., Foresti, M.L.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Amsterdam Elsevier B.V 01.11.2013; Elsevier
• Subjects: catalytic surfaces; Chemistry; Electrochemistry; Electrodeposition; Exact sciences and technology; General and physical chemistry; ORR; SEBALD; Silver; Study of interfaces; Silver; Electrodeposition; SEBALD; ORR; catalytic surfaces; Chemical reduction; Atomic layer method; Oxygen; Transition metal; Electrochemical reaction; Chemical vapor deposition
• ISSN: 0378-7753; 1873-2755
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jpowsour.2013.04.111

The increasing attention addressed toward the synergic effect of various metals on the catalysis of one of the most important electrocatalytic reaction, such as the Oxygen Reduction Reaction (ORR), led us to study the effect of monolayers of Fe and of mixed Fe and Co on Ag(111), whose catalytic activity is already known and well characterized. Fe and Co/Fe clusters were obtained by the Selective Electrodesorption Based Atomic Layer Deposition (SEBALD) method, which is a novel electrochemical route to deposit metal clusters on a foreign substrate recently proposed by our group. SEBALD of Fe or Co/Fe resulted in an enhanced catalytic activity; Co/Fe in particular was demonstrated to assemble in small clusters, providing access of the electrolyte to Ag and enabling a bimetallic catalytic effect. •We obtain new Pt-free catalytic surfaces for the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR).•We use metals such as Fe–Co–Ag which are suitable for alkaline fuel cells.•We apply the SEBALD method to deposit clusters of Fe and Co on silver.•Increasing information about three-metallic electrocatalysts.