Bifunctional OER and ORR Electrocatalyst based on cobalt oxide nanocrystals: Towards Rechargeable Metal - air Batteries

Abstract

atalyst for oxygen evolution reaction (OER) and oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) are at the heart of key renewable energy technologies such as water splitting and rechargeable batteries. But developing low cost oxygen electrode catalyst with high activity at low over potential remains a great c hallenge. Owing to the high cost of Ruthenium and Iridium metal based oxides and its limited availability, research on alternative catalyst based on non - noble metals and their oxides have been pursued worldwide. Spinel - type cobalt oxide, Co 3 O 4 , with multip le oxidation states of cobalt, is an alternate choice for OER and ORR activities. The objective of the present work is to exploit the scope of cobalt oxide and to selectively tune its electrocatalytic activity by substitution by other transition metal ions to make a better electrocatalyst with higher activity and improved stability. Here we synthesized Manganese cobalt spinel oxide nanocrystals with different manganese content by autocombustion method and studied the effect on the el e ctrocatalytic Oxygen re duction and oxygen evolution reaction to make use this as a bifunctional catalyst in electrochemical energy devices such as rechargeable Metal - Air batteries