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Updated: Jun 30, 2025

Synthesis of Platinum-nickel Nanowires and Optimization for Oxygen Reduction Performance
Published on: April 27, 2018
Metal-Free Homogeneous O2 Reduction by an Iminium-Based Electrocatalyst
Emma N Cook1, Anna E Davis1, Michael K Hilinski1
1Department of Chemistry, University of Virginia, PO Box 400319, Charlottesville, Virginia 22904-4319, United States.
Abstract:
The oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) is important for alternative energy and industrial oxidation processes. Herein, an iminium-based organoelectrocatalyst (im) for the ORR with trifluoroacetic acid as a proton source in acetonitrile solution under both electrochemical and spectrochemical conditions using decamethylferrocene as a chemical reductant is reported. Under spectrochemical conditions, H2O2 is the primary reaction product, while under electrochemical conditions H2O is produced. This difference in selectivity is attributed to the interception of the free superoxide intermediate under electrochemical conditions by the reduced catalyst, accessing an alternate inner-sphere pathway.
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