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Thermogravimetry/Mass Spectrometry Investigations on the Formation of Oxygen Reduction Catalysts for PEM Fuel Cells on the Basis of Heat‐Treated Iron Phenanthroline Complexes
Author(s) -
Bron M.,
Fiechter S.,
Bogdanoff P.,
Tributsch H.
Publication year - 2003
Publication title -
fuel cells
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.485
H-Index - 69
eISSN - 1615-6854
pISSN - 1615-6846
DOI - 10.1002/fuce.200290012
Subject(s) - thermogravimetry , catalysis , rotating disk electrode , chemistry , inorganic chemistry , oxygen , mass spectrometry , proton exchange membrane fuel cell , oxygen reduction reaction , analytical chemistry (journal) , electrode , electrochemistry , cyclic voltammetry , organic chemistry , chromatography
Oxygen reduction catalysts for PEM fuel cells on the basis of carbon supported, heat‐treated iron phenanthroline complexes have been investigated with rotating disc‐electrode (RDE) measurements and with thermogravimetry/mass spectrometry (TG/MS). It has been found, that the slope of the Koutecky–Levich plot from RDE measurements changes with electrode potential and with catalyst loading of the electrode. The results can be understood in terms of a two times 2‐electron reduction of oxygen at the iron‐based catalysts. TG/MS indicate, that during the heat‐treatment step the phenathroline molecule of the catalyst precursor is completely embedded into the carbon. The results are discussed in terms of the structure of the active centre of these catalysts.