Electrocatalysts for oxygen electrodes
Abstract
The overall objective of this research was an in-depth understanding of the factors controlling O2 reduction and generation on various electrocatalysts and the use of this understanding to identify much higher activity, stable catalysts. The following is a brief summary of the research for the period 1 April 1989 to 31 March 1990. (1) Transition metal monomeric and sheet-polymeric macrocycle catalysts -- The iron tetrasulfonated phthalocyanine (FeTsPc) complex adsorbed on an electrode surface has high activity for the 4-electron reduction of O2 to water or OH(exp -) in alkaline solutions. (2) Polymer-modified electrodes -- Poly(4-vinyl pyridine) (PVP)-modified electrodes with adsorbed CoTsPc exhibited much higher catalytic activity for O2 reduction than the electrode with only adsorbed CoTsPc in acid solutions. (3) Transition metal oxide catalysts and bifunctional electrodes -- Anion-exchange membranes were found to greatly improve the performance of the pyrochlore-based bifunctional oxygen electrodes when operating in the O2 generation mode. (4) Catalyst supports -- The use of mildly fluorinated carbon blacks as catalyst supports for platinum was explored in cooperation with the Electrosynthesis Company (ESC).
- Publication:
-
NASA STI/Recon Technical Report N
- Pub Date:
- October 1990
- Bibcode:
- 1990STIN...9125327Y
- Keywords:
-
- Adsorption;
- Adsorptivity;
- Electrocatalysts;
- Electrodes;
- Reduction (Chemistry);
- Carbon;
- Complex Compounds;
- Electron Microscopy;
- Gold;
- Iron Compounds;
- Organometallic Compounds;
- Oxygen;
- Ph Factor;
- Phthalocyanin;
- Platinum;
- Porphyrins;
- Pyrolytic Graphite;
- Surface Properties;
- Electronics and Electrical Engineering