Evaluation of the electrocatalytic performance of PtCo/C nanoparticles in different proportions of cobalt for oxygen reduction reaction

Bimetallic nanoparticles with extremely uniform dispersion on conductive-carbon supports are very much needed to improve the kinetics of sluggish electrochemical reactions relevant to fuel cell applications. in this research, bimetallic platinumcobalt with 20% by weight of platinum on vulcan carbon was synthesized with different proportions of cobalt to investigate the oxygen reduction reaction. cobalt to platinum ratios of 1:2, 1:0.33, and 1:3 were prepared using the saturationregeneration method. the catalytic properties of the catalyst for the oxygen reduction reaction were studied using the electrochemical methods of cyclic voltammetry, chronoamperometry, linear potential scanning voltammetry, rotating disk electrode, and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. the electrocatalyst made with a ratio of 1:2 ptco/c exhibited higher orr activity than the other catalysts tested. in addition, the number of electrons in the oxygen reduction reaction was also calculated, which followed the four electron path for a ratio of 1:2. the physicochemical results (scanning microscope spectroscopy (sem)) showed a more suitable distribution and better active surface for the 1:2 ptco/c catalyst, which enhanced the utility of the catalyst for orr.