<scp>Microwave‐assisted</scp> synthesis of <scp>cobalt‐polyoxometalate</scp> @carbon black nanocomposites and their electrocatalytic ability toward oxygen reduction reaction
Sagar Ingavale, Indrajit Patil, K. Prabakaran, Anita Swami
Abstract
Improving the stability and efficiency of non-noble metal based ORR (oxygen reduction reaction) electrocatalyst is crucial for the commercialization of fuel cell technology. Here, we report the synthesis of cobalt-polyoxometalate nanocomposite with carbon ([email protected]) by greener strategy, which shows an interesting enhancement in the kinetics of oxygen electroreduction process. The [email protected] nanocomposite exhibited improved catalytic activity toward ORR with Eonset 1.00 V vs RHE and current density of 4.2 mA/cm2 at 1600 rpm in alkaline condition. Further, [email protected] electrocatalyst showed a single step ~4 electron transfer pathway, high tolerance to methanol, and exhibited superior stability compared with 20 wt% Pt/C. Thus, [email protected] could be a cheaper and potential candidate for ORR electrocatalysis in fuel cells. The superiority of the catalyst in terms of activity and durability arises due to the uniform distribution of cobalt-polyoxometalate nanoclusters on carbon surface and the synergetic effect of POM, cobalt, and carbon.