Enhanced Activity of Non‐Noble Metal Electrocatalysts for the Oxygen Reduction Reaction Using Low Temperature Plasma Treatment

Abstract

Abstract Low‐temperature plasma treatment is shown to be efficient for the preparation of non‐noble metal (iron(II)phthalocyanine, FePc) based electrocatalysts for ORR. Preparation procedures include the treatment of FePc‐based catalysts using Ar‐, N 2 ‐ and NH 3 ‐plasma as well as prior plasma pretreatment of the catalyst support. The effect of plasma pretreatment of the catalyst support was studied for subsequent plasma treated and pyrolyzed catalysts. The electrocatalytic activity of the pyrolyzed catalysts was increased 5‐fold by plasma pretreatment of catalyst support. The enhancement of the electrocatalytic activity can be ascribed to two joint features: an increased of specific surface area of the catalyst material and improved FePc dispersion on the surface of the pretreated supports. magnified image