Oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) in fuel cells plays a very definitive role in determining the effectiveness and usability of the device. Traditionally Pt has been used as an effective ORR catalysts and extensive studies have been previously conducted in order to replace this expensive metal with a more cost-effective catalyst. A large number of nonprecious transition metal catalysts have already been reported as efficient cathode catalysts for the ORR. Among these catalysts, transition metal (Co, Fe, Ru, Rh, etc.) chalcogenides have attracted considerable attention from researchers [1]. Here, we demonstrate patterned electrodeposition of cobalt selenide (CoxSey) nanorod and nanotubes arrays and demonstrate their catalytic activities towards ORR in acidic medium. The CoxSey nanostructure arrays were produced by a protocol developed recently in the Nath laboratory2 which involved confined electrodeposition in lithographically created nanoelectrodes. ORR activity of catalysts were evaluated in acidic medium. Coating the CoxSey nanostructures with a thin layer of Pt (CoxSey-Pt) also exhibits enhanced catalytic efficiency. ORR current densities of CoxSey and CoxSey-Pt are comparable with Pt which indicate the four electron reduction process of all catalysts. Detailed characterization and evaluation of catalytic activity will be presented in the poster. References: 1. L. Zhu, M, Teo, P.C. Wong, K.C. Wong, I. Narita, F. Ernst, K.A.R. Mitchell, S.A. Cambell, Applied Catalysis A: General, 2010, 386, 157. 2. S. Mishra and Manashi Nath, Nano Energy, 2013, 2, 1207

Patterned electrodeposition of cobalt selenide nanostructure arrays as effective ORR catalysts

249th National Meeting (2015)

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