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Efficiently Enhancing Oxygen Reduction Electrocatalytic Activity of MnO 2 Using Facile Hydrogenation
Author(s) -
Zhang Tianran,
Cheng Fangyi,
Du Jing,
Hu Yuxiang,
Chen Jun
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
advanced energy materials
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 10.08
H-Index - 220
eISSN - 1614-6840
pISSN - 1614-6832
DOI - 10.1002/aenm.201400654
Subject(s) - materials science , electrocatalyst , catalysis , oxide , hydrogen peroxide , electrochemistry , transition metal , metal , chemical engineering , inorganic chemistry , conductivity , aqueous solution , hydrogen , electrode , chemistry , organic chemistry , metallurgy , engineering
Improving the electrocatalytic oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) activity of transition metal oxides is important for the development of non‐noble metal catalysts that are used in metal‐air batteries and fuel cells. Here, a novel facile strategy of hydrogenation to significantly enhance the ORR performance of MnO 2 . The hydrogenated MnO 2 (H‐MnO 2 ), which is prepared through a simple heat treatment in hydrogen gas, shows characteristics of modified lattice/surface structures and increased electrical conductivity. In 0.1 M KOH aqueous solution, the prepared H‐MnO 2 exhibits high activity toward the oxygen electrocatalysis with more positive onset potential (≈60 mV), ≈14% larger of limiting current, lower yield of peroxide species, and better durability than the pristine oxide. Further conductivity testing and density functional theory (DFT) studies reveal the faster kinetics of ORR after hydrogenation is due to the formation of hydrogen bonds and altered microstructure and improved electronic properties. These results highlight the importance of hydrogenation as a facile yet effective strategy to improve the catalytic activity of transition metal oxides for ORR‐based applications.