Study of the oxygen reduction reaction at low temperature on the Nd1.98Sr0.02Ni0.99Co0.01O4 ± δ material; synthesis and electrochemical behavior

In order to improve the electrochemical performances of the zinc-air cells, the material Nd1.98Sr0.02Ni0.99Co0.01O4 ± δ was prepared following the citrate method and used as cathode materials for alkaline room temperature fuel cells towards the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR). The microstructure and morphology before and after the ORR process were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The electrochemical performances were followed by linear voltammetry and impedance spectroscopy. The results obtained are promising, the optical band gap is 1.36 eV showing that it is semiconductor and the voltammograms display two steps involving two electrons each. Moreover, the Nd1.98Sr0.02Ni0.99Co0.01O4 ± δ material allows obtaining higher current densities compared to black carbon and glassy carbon at different rotational speed. Impedance spectroscopy results confirm the good electrochemical performances of the analyzed material.