Electrocatalytic Reduction of Cobalt Oxide Spinel for Oxygen Reduction Reaction in Alkaline Media

Abstract

The cathode material were prepared by dispersing Co3O4 on vulcan carbon in situ and manually grinding in pestle and mortar. Co3O4 prepared by hydrazine based combustion method showed nanocrystalline nature. Surface area was found to increase on dispersing Co3O4 on vulcan carbon by manually grinding it in pestle and mortar. The kinetics of the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) was studied on Co3O4/C electrodes in KOH electrolyte by using cyclic voltammetry and steady state polarization measurements using Hg/HgO as the reference electrode. The morphological features of the electrocatalyst was studied by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD) & BET surface area. The polarization results showed higher electrocatlytic activity for the ORR on Co3O4/C (G) cathode in comparison to Co3O4/C (P) prepared by dispering Co3O4 on a vulcan carbon. Electrocatalytic activity of N(G) & N(P) were compared with Pt/C electrodes.