Oxygen reduction reaction activity of an iron phthalocyanine/graphene oxide nanocomposite

Electrocatalysts with metal-nitrogen-carbon (M-N-C) sites have recently attracted much attention as potential catalysts for the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR), and a hybrid of iron phthalocyanine (FePc) and reduced graphene oxide (rGO) is one of the promising candidates. Herein, a FePc/GO nanocomposite was synthesized by electrostatic deposition on the electrode. The electrochemically reduced FePc/GO nanocomposite (ER(FePc/GO)) contained Fe²⁺ centers in well reduced graphene sites without agglomeration. The ER(FePc/GO) exhibited high ORR activity with an ORR onset (E _onset) and half-wave potential (E _1/2) of 0.97 and 0.86 V, respectively. Furthermore, the ORR activity successfully improved by adding an electrolyte such as KCl or KNO₃. The small H₂O₂ yield of 2%, superior tolerance to methanol addition and high-durability indicate that the ER(FePc/GO) is a promising electrocatalyst. Theoretical studies, indicating that the presence of Cl^- and NO₃ ^- ions lowered the conversion energy barrier, strongly supported the experimental results.