Electroreduction of oxygen on gold nanoparticle/PDDA-MWCNT nanocomposites in acid solution.
The electrochemical reduction of oxygen has been studied on gold nanoparticle (AuNP)/poly(diallyldimethylammonium chloride) (PDDA)-multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) modified glassy carbon (GC) electrodes in 0.5 M H2SO4 using the rotating disk electrode (RDE) technique. The AuNP/PDDA-MWCNT catalysts were prepared using an electrostatic layer-by-layer (LBL) technique. The composite electrode was electrochemically characterized by cyclic voltammetry in an O2-free electrolyte. The oxygen reduction behaviour of these electrodes was compared with that of a PDDA-MWCNT/GC electrode. The AuNP/PDDA-MWCNT catalysts showed a remarkable electrocatalytic activity towards O2 reduction in acid media. The half-wave potential of O2 reduction on the AuNP/PDDA-MWCNT catalyst shifted more than 200 mV to more positive potentials as compared to that of a PDDA-MWCNT/GC electrode. The kinetic parameters of O2 reduction were determined and the specific activity of the hybrid electrodes was higher than that of bulk gold.
Institute of Chemistry, University of Tartu, Jakobi 2, 51014 Tartu, Estonia.
Nadezda
N
Alexeyeva
Kaido
K
Tammeveski