The oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) determines the overall performance of low temperature fuel cells because ORR is kinetically slow compared to hydrogen oxidation at the anode. The utilization of precious-metal-based electrocatalysts such as Pt in the cathode greatly hinders the large-scale commercial application of these fuel cells because of their limited supply and high cost. We report the straight forward synthesis by spray-pyrolysis of LaFexCo(1-x)O3 electrocatalysts showing high ORR activity. La-based perovskite-type oxides have drawn considerable attention as non-Pt catalysts because of their low cost and stability. Binary and ternary lanthanum, iron, and cobalt oxide catalysts have been previously prepared by a relatively complex procedure involving citric acid/ethylene glycol sol-gels. We have found that equally efficient electrocatalysts can be prepared by simple spray pyrolysis of the metal nitrate salt solutions. Films were sprayed onto FTO glass substrates and were optimized by varying the composition and concentration of the precursor metal solutions as well as the thickness of the metal oxide film. The best film had a compositional ratio of LaFe0.40Co0.60O3. The ORR activity of the films was characterized using IV curves and spectroelectrochemistry. The films were also characterized through XRD and SEM-EDS analysis, to confirm the crystal structure and to identify the elemental distribution and thickness of the metal oxide layer.

Oxygen reduction reaction electrocatalysts based on LaFexCo(1-x)O3 thin films prepared by spray-pyrolysis

251st National Meeting (2016)

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