Non-Noble Metal Catalyst for Oxygen Reduction Reaction in Acidic Medium

Abstract

Cobalt based non noble metal catalysts were prepared from heat treated cobalt ethylene diamine complexes adsorbed on carbon. The effect of surface oxygen groups on carbon was studied. Surface oxygen groups on carbon were introduced with HNO3 oxidation. Quinone groups introduced by nitric acid treatment, in addition to increasing the dispersion of the chelate complexes, play a role in forming the active site for oxygen reduction.