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Integration of Platinum Group Metal‐Free Catalysts and Bilirubin Oxidase into a Hybrid Material for Oxygen Reduction: Interplay of Chemistry and Morphology
Author(s) -
RojasCarbonell Santiago,
Babanova Sofia,
Serov Alexey,
Artyushkova Kateryna,
Workman Michael J.,
Santoro Carlo,
Mirabal Alex,
Calabrese Barton Scott,
Atanassov Plamen
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
chemsuschem
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.412
H-Index - 157
eISSN - 1864-564X
pISSN - 1864-5631
DOI - 10.1002/cssc.201601822
Subject(s) - catalysis , platinum group , chemistry , platinum , oxygen reduction , metal , group (periodic table) , oxygen reduction reaction , oxygen , morphology (biology) , inorganic chemistry , chemical engineering , organic chemistry , electrochemistry , electrode , engineering , biology , genetics
Catalytic activity toward the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) of platinum group metal‐free (PGM‐free) electrocatalysts integrated with an enzyme (bilirubin oxidase, BOx) in neutral media was studied. The effects of chemical and morphological characteristics of PGM‐free materials on the enzyme enhancement of the overall ORR kinetics was investigated. The surface chemistry of the PGM‐free catalyst was studied using X‐ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy. Catalyst surface morphology was characterized using two independent methods: length‐scale specific image analysis and nitrogen adsorption. Good agreement of macroscopic and microscopic morphological properties was found. Enhancement of ORR activity by the enzyme is influenced by chemistry and surface morphology of the catalyst itself. Catalysts with a higher nitrogen content, specifically pyridinic moieties, showed the greatest enhancement. Furthermore, catalysts with a higher fraction of surface roughness in the range of 3–5 nm exhibited greater performance enhancement than catalysts lacking features of this size.