(FeCo/Ppy@C): Pt-free FeCo-Polypyrrole Nanocomposites Supported on Porous Carbon for Electrochemical Application

Dipartimento di Scienze Chimiche e Geologiche, Università degli Studi di Cagliari, Cittadella Universitaria di Monserrato, 09042 Monserrato (CA), Italy

Adv. Mater. Lett., 2019, 10 (4), pp 253-258

DOI: 10.5185/amlett.2018.2203

Publication Date (Web): Oct 26, 2018

Copyright © IAAM-VBRI Press

E-mail: alescano80@tiscali.it, ennas@unica.it

Abstract

The synthesis and characterization of pyrolyzed carbon-supported transition metal/nitrogen (M–Nx/C) material based on FeCo alloy and Polypirrol as source of N atoms are presented. Two different synthetic protocols, a multi-step and a novel one pot single-step approach are compared. In both approaches two different Fe:Co ratio (50:50 and 75:25) were used to obtain Pt-free FeCo-Polypyrrole nanocomposites supported on porous carbon (FeCo/Ppy@C). Structural and morphological characterizations of the samples before and after pyrolysis were carried out by using X-Ray Powder Diffracion, Infrared Spectroscopy and High-Resolution Transmission Electron Microscopy. For both approaches, nanoparticles with a core shell structure but different size and matrix polidispersivity were observed after pyrolysis when a Fe:Co 50:50 ratio was used. Bigger nanoparticles were obtained after pyrolysis in the 75:25 ratio samples, with no significant differences between the two approaches. The electrocatalytical properties of the final samples, investigated by cyclic voltammetry in an acidic electrolyte, showed the presence of a cathodic current density.

Keywords

Proton electrolyte membrane fuel cell, non-precious metal catalysts, oxygen reduction reaction (ORR), Pt-free electrocatalysts, conductive polymers, catalytic hydrogen production.