A novel CuFe-based catalyst for the oxygen reduction reaction in alkaline media

The primary objective of this work is to develop alternative electrocatalysts to Pt-based materials for the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) in alkaline fuel cells. We synthesized a bicore CuFe/C composite electrocatalyst by impregnation of iron and copper phthalocyanine-based complexes into a carbon support, followed by pyrolysis at 800–900 °C in an Ar atmosphere. This novel composite catalyst exhibits electrochemical performance for ORR in 0.1 M KOH similar to a commercial Pt/C (BASF Fuel Cell, 30%) catalyst at 6-fold lower CuFe loading. High resolution X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (HR-XPS) results indicate that coordination bonding between Fe and N atoms still remains and show that a mixed Cu(I)/Cu(II) valency exists in the CuFe/C catalyst after high temperature heat treatment. The Cu(I)/Cu(II) redox mediator adjacent to Fe atoms is crucial to provide electrons to the NxFe–O2 adduct and maximize the overall rate of the reduction reaction. The results of this study may offer a new approach to development of efficient catalysts for oxygen reduction to water in alkaline media.

► A novel non-noble CuFe/C catalyst for electroreduction of O2 in alkaline media.
► Similar catalytic activity as Pt/C toward ORR in alkaline media.
► FeNx is the catalytic site; Cu(II)/Cu(I) redox mediator acts as an electron shuttle.