Investigations of carbon nitride-supported Mn3 O4 oxide nanoparticles for ORR

Large, AI; Wahl, S; Abate, S; da Silva, I; Delgado Jaen, JJ; Pinna, N; Held, G; Arrigo, R

Abstract

Earth-abundant Mn-based oxide nanoparticles are supported on carbon nitride using two different immobilization methods and tested for the oxygen reduction reaction. Compared to the metal free CN, the immobilization of Mn oxide enhances not only the electrocatalytic activity but also the selectivity towards the 4e- reduction reaction of O2 to H2O. The XPS analysis reveals the interaction of the pyridine N species with Mn3O4 nanoparticles being particularly beneficial. This interaction is realized—although to a limited extent—when preparing the catalysts via impregnation; via the oleic acid route it is not observed. Whilst this work shows the potential of these systems to catalyze the ORR, the main limiting factor is still the poor conductivity of the support which leads to overpotential.

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Oct 31, 2020
• Online Publication Date: Nov 6, 2020
• Publication Date: Nov 6, 2020
• Deposit Date: Nov 9, 2020
• Publicly Available Date: Nov 9, 2020
• Journal: Catalysts
• Electronic ISSN: 2073-4344
• Publisher: MDPI
• Volume: 10
• Issue: 11
• Pages: e1289
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/catal10111289
• Publisher URL: https://doi.org/10.3390/catal10111289
• Related Public URLs: http://www.mdpi.com/journal/catalysts
• Additional Information: Additional Information : ** From MDPI via Jisc Publications Router ** Licence for this article: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ **Journal IDs: eissn 2073-4344 **History: published 06-11-2020; accepted 31-10-2020; Funders : University of Reading for the Undergraduate Research Opportunity Programme;Innovation of Spain/FEDER Programm of the EU;Engineering & Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC);UK Catalysis Hub Consortium; Grant Number: ENE2017-82451-C3-2-R; Grant Number: EP/K014706/1, EP/K014668/1, EP/K014854/1, EP/K014714/1, EP/I019693/1