Modifying carbon particles with polypyrrole for adsorption of cobalt ions as electrocatatytic site for oxygen reduction

The modification of a carbon nanoparticle modified with a cobalt-adsorbed polypyrrole (PPy) film for the oxygen reduction is described. Metal complexes with macrocyclic ligands such as porphyrins and phthalocyanines that contain four nitrogen donors adsorbed on carbon and heat-treated are alternates to the conventional carbon-supported platinum catalyst. It was found that the heat treatment of the catalyst not only shifted the half-wave potential to a positive side but also doubled the plateau current. It was also found that the catalyst showed high stability against degradation after use for several hours.