Cobalt-Based Coordination Polymer for Oxygen Reduction Reaction

  • Prabu Mani
  • , Anjaiah Sheelam
  • , Shubhajit Das
  • , Guanxiong Wang
  • , Vijay K. Ramani
  • , Kothandaraman Ramanujam
  • , Swapan K. Pati
  • , Sukhendu Mandal

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

26 Scopus citations

Abstract

Lack of control over the structure and electrically nonconductive properties of coordination polymers (CPs) creates a major hindrance to designing an active electrocatalyst for oxygen reduction reaction (ORR). Here, we report a new semiconductive and low-optical band gap CP structure [{Co33-OH)(BTB)2(BPE)2}{Co0.5N(C5H5)}], 1, that exhibits high-performance ORR in alkaline medium. The electrical conductivity of compound 1 was measured using impedance spectroscopy and found to be 5 × 10-4 S cm-1. The Ketjenblack EC-600JD carbon used as a support for all the electrochemical methods such as cyclic voltammetry, rotating disk electrode, rotating ring-disk electrode and Koutecký-Levich analysis. The as-synthesized Co-based catalyst has the ability to reduce O2 to H2O by a nearly four-electron process. The crystal structure of 1 shows that the trimeric unit {Co33-OH)(COO)5N3} and monomeric unit {Co(COO)2(NC5H4)2}2+ are linked with BTB and BPE linkers to form a three-dimensional structure. Theoretical calculations predict that the monomeric center acts as an active catalytic site for ORR. This could be due to the efficient overlap of highest occupied molecular orbital-lowest unoccupied molecular orbital between monomer and O2 molecule. This CP, 1, shows facile 3.6-electron ORR, and it is inexpensive compared with widely used Pt catalysts. Therefore, this CP can be used as a promising cathode material for fuel cells in terms of efficiency and cost effectiveness.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)3830-3834
Number of pages5
JournalACS Omega
Volume3
Issue number4
DOIs
StatePublished - Apr 30 2018

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