title: Aqueous-based synthesis of ruthenium-selenium catalyst for oxygen reduction reaction.
abstract: Carbon-supported Se/Ru(Se) catalysts of a broad range of composition were synthesized via a reduction procedure in which a mixture of RuCl3, SeO2 and Black Pearl carbon was treated with NaBH4 in basic media at room temperature. Physical characterization of the catalyst was performed by X-ray diffraction, energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy and by high resolution transmission electron microscopy. The effect of NaOH addition during the reduction by NaBH4 and the impact of a post-reduction thermal treatment at 500 degrees C were interrogated. The activity of the catalyst towards the oxygen reduction reaction was studied by the use of a rotating disk electrode. It was found that the half-wave potential for the oxygen reduction reaction was about 0.78 V vs. RHE. The Se-to-Ru ratio and metal loading on carbon were optimized for the oxygen reduction reaction and the optimized catalyst was tested at the cathode of a polymer electrolyte fuel cell. The stability of the Se/Ru(Se) catalyst was evaluated by electrochemical cycling and by leaching the catalyst in 0.5 M H2SO4 at 80 degrees C.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61801, USA.
authors.forename: Cyril
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Delacôte
authors.forename: Arman
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bonakdarpour
authors.forename: Christina M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Johnston
authors.forename: Piotr
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Zelenay
authors.forename: Andrzej
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Wieckowski
mesh_terms: D002384:Catalysis; D003198:Computer Simulation; D011211:Electric Power Supplies; D004563:Electrochemistry / Q000379:methods*; D004566:Electrodes; D004579:Electron Transport; D008956:Models, Chemical; D010084:Oxidation-Reduction; D010100:Oxygen / Q000737:chemistry*; D012428:Ruthenium / Q000737:chemistry*; D012643:Selenium / Q000737:chemistry*; D013499:Surface Properties; D014867:Water / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D014867:Water; D012428:Ruthenium; D012643:Selenium; D010100:Oxygen