Oxygen reduction on graphene-supported MN4 macrocycles in alkaline media

•Reduced graphene oxide (rGO) was modified with Fe phthalocyanine and Co porphyrin.•rGO supported MN4 macrocycles were used as catalysts for oxygen reduction reaction.•MN4 macrocycle/rGO showed remarkable catalytic activity for ORR in alkaline media.•MN4 macrocycle/rGO is an attractive cathode catalyst for alkaline membrane fuel cells.

Fe phthalocyanine (FePc) and Co porphyrin (CoPh) modified reduced graphene oxide (rGO) nanosheets were used as non-noble metal electrocatalysts for oxygen reduction reaction (ORR). The surface morphology, graphitisation and surface composition of the catalyst materials were characterised by scanning electron microscopy, micro-Raman spectroscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. Electrochemical experiments with FePc/rGO and CoPh/rGO catalysts were carried out in 0.1 M KOH employing the rotating disc electrode (RDE) method. The RDE results show that both MN4-macrocycle/rGO modified glassy carbon electrodes are highly active for ORR in alkaline solution.