Effect of gold nanoparticles on the electrocatalytic reduction of oxygen by silica encapsulated cobalt phthalocyanine

► Cobalt phthalocyanine (CoPc) adsorbed silica materials (MPS-CoPc) were prepared. ► Gold nanoparticles (Au NPs) were introduced into/onto the MPS-CoPc materials. ► They showed efficient electrocatalytic reduction of oxygen. ► Au NPs increase the oxygen reduction efficiency of CoPc. ► A possible oxygen reduction mechanism is proposed.