RT Journal Article
T1 Boosting Oxygen Reduction Reaction Selectivity in Metal Nanoparticles with Polyoxometalates
A1 Quirós Díez, Eugenia Pilar
A1 Herreros Lucas, Carlos
A1 Vila Fungueiriño, José Manuel
A1 Vizcaíno Anaya, Lucía
A1 Sabater-Algarra, Yolanda
A1 Giménez López, María del Carmen
AB The lack of selectivity toward the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) in metal nanoparticles can be linked to the generation of intermediates. This constitutes a crucial constraint on the performance of specific electrochemical devices, such as fuel cells and metal–air batteries. To boost selectivity of metal nanoparticles, a novel methodology that harnesses the unique electrocatalytic properties of polyoxometalates (POM) to scavenge undesired intermediates of the ORR (such as HO2−) promoting selectivity is proposed. It involves the covalent functionalization of metal nanoparticle's surface with an electrochemically active capping layer containing a new sulfur-functionalized vanadium-based POM (AuNP@POM). To demonstrate this approach, preformed thiolate Au(111) nanoparticles with a relatively poor ORR selectivity are chosen. The dispersion of AuNP@POM on the surface of carbon nanofibers (CNF) enhances oxygen diffusion, and therefore the ORR activity. The resulting electrocatalyst (AuNP@POM/CNF) exhibits superior stability against impurities like methanol and a higher pH tolerance range compared to the standard commercial Pt/C. The work demonstrates for the first time, the use of a POM-based electrochemically active capping layer to switch on the selectivity of poorly selective gold nanoparticles, offering a promising avenue for the preparation of electrocatalyst materials with improved selectivity, performance, and stability for ORR-based devices.
PB Wiley
YR 2024
FD 2024
LK http://hdl.handle.net/10347/33845
UL http://hdl.handle.net/10347/33845
LA eng
NO This work has received financial support from the Ministry of Science of Spain (RYC-2016-20258, CNS2023-145421, PID2021-127341OB-I00, TED2021-131451BC21 and PDC2022-133925-I00 for M.d.C.G.-L., IJC2020-044369-I for J.M.V.-F. and FPU20/01072 for L.V.-A.), the European Research Council (ERC) (Starting Grant (NANOCOMP-679124) and ZABCAT (966743) for M.d.C.G.-L.), the Xunta de Galicia (for Predoctoral Fellowship (ED481A-2020/155) for E.P.Q.-D. and Centro singular de investigación de Galicia accreditation 2019–2022, ED431G 2019/03), and the European Union (European Regional Development Fund─ERDF).
DS Minerva
RD 24 abr 2026