Accurate assessment of the oxygen reduction electrocatalytic activity of Mn/polypyrrole nanocomposites based on rotating disk electrode (RDE) measurements, complemented with multi-technique structural characterizations

Abstract

This paper reports on the quantitative assessment of the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) electrocatalytic activity of electrodeposited Mn/polypyrrole (PPy) nanocomposites for alkaline aqueous solutions, based on the Rotating Disk Electrode (RDE) method and accompanied by structural characterizations relevant to the establishment of structure-function relationships. The characterization of Mn/PPy films is addressed to the following: (i) morphology, as assessed by Field-Emission Scanning Electron Microscopy (FE-SEM) and Atomic Force Microscope (AFM); (ii) local electrical conductivity, as measured by Scanning Probe Microscopy (SPM); and (iii) molecular structure, accessed by Raman Spectroscopy; these data provide the background against which the electrocatalytic activity can be rationalised. For comparison, the properties of Mn/PPy are gauged against those of graphite, PPy, and polycrystalline-Pt (poly-Pt). Due to the literature lack of accepted protocols for precise catalytic activity measurement at poly-Pt electrode in alkaline solution using the RDE methodology, we have also worked on the obtainment of an intralaboratory benchmark by evidencing some of the time-consuming parameters which drastically affect the reliability and repeatability of the measurement.


Tutti gli autori

  • Bocchetta P. , Sánchez C.R. , Taurino A. , Bozzini B.

Titolo volume/Rivista

JOURNAL OF ANALYTICAL METHODS IN CHEMISTRY


Anno di pubblicazione

2016

ISSN

2090-8873

ISBN

Non Disponibile


Numero di citazioni Wos

Nessuna citazione

Ultimo Aggiornamento Citazioni

Non Disponibile


Numero di citazioni Scopus

1

Ultimo Aggiornamento Citazioni

28/04/2018


Settori ERC

Non Disponibile

Codici ASJC

Non Disponibile