Microwave Assisted Synthesis of Osmium Electrocatalysts for the Oxygen Reduction Reaction in the Absence and Presence of Aqueous Methanol

Abstract

Osmium electrocatalysts for the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) were prepared by microwave irradiation of Os3(CO)12 at different experimental conditions. The materials obtained were structurally characterized by FT-IR, micro-Raman spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction. Their chemical compositions were obtained by EDS. The electrocatalytic properties for the oxygen reduction reaction were evaluated by rotating disk electrode measurements in 0.5 mol L-1 H2SO4, in the absence and presence of aqueous methanol. The kinetic parameters, such as Tafel slope, exchange current density, and charge transfer coefficient are reported.