Nitrogen-Doped Carbon-Supported Cobalt-Iron Oxygen Reduction Catalyst

Abstract

A Fe—Co hybrid catalyst for oxygen reaction reduction was prepared by a two part process. The first part involves reacting an ethyleneamine with a cobalt-containing precursor to form a cobalt-containing complex, combining the cobalt-containing complex with an electroconductive carbon supporting material, heating the cobalt-containing complex and carbon supporting material under conditions suitable to convert the cobalt-containing complex and carbon supporting material into a cobalt-containing catalyst support. The second part of the process involves polymerizing an aniline in the presence of said cobalt-containing catalyst support and an iron-containing compound conditions suitable to form a supported, cobalt-containing, iron-bound polyaniline species, and subjecting said supported, cobalt-containing, iron bound polyaniline species to conditions suitable for producing a Fe—Co hybrid catalyst.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A Fe—Co hybrid catalyst prepared by a process comprising:
 reacting an ethyleneamine with a cobalt-containing precursor to form a cobalt-containing complex, 
 combining the cobalt-containing complex with an electroconductive carbon supporting material, 
 heating the cobalt-containing complex and carbon supporting material under conditions suitable to convert the cobalt-containing complex and carbon supporting material into a cobalt-containing catalyst support, 
 polymerizing an aniline in the presence of said cobalt-containing catalyst support and an iron-containing compound under conditions suitable to form a supported, cobalt-containing, iron-bound polyaniline species, 
 subjecting said supported, cobalt-containing, iron bound polyaniline species to conditions suitable for producing a Fe—Co hybrid catalyst. 
 
     
     
         2 . The catalyst of  claim 1 , wherein the ethyleneamine is selected from the group consisting of ethylenediamine, diethylenetriamine, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         3 . The catalyst of  claim 1 , wherein the cobalt-containing precursor is Co(NO 3 ) 2 .6H 2 O. 
     
     
         4 . The catalyst of  claim 1 , wherein the electroconductive carbon supporting material is carbon black. 
     
     
         5 . An electrode comprising a Fe—Co hybrid catalyst prepared by a process comprising:
 reacting an ethyleneamine with a cobalt-containing precursor to form a cobalt-containing complex, 
 combining the cobalt-containing complex with an electroconductive carbon supporting material, 
 heating the cobalt-containing complex and carbon supporting material under conditions suitable to convert the cobalt-containing complex and carbon supporting material into a cobalt-containing catalyst support, 
 polymerizing an aniline in the presence of said cobalt-containing catalyst support and an iron-containing compound under conditions suitable to form a supported, cobalt-containing, iron-bound polyaniline species, 
 subjecting said supported, cobalt-containing, iron bound polyaniline species to conditions suitable for producing a Fe—Co hybrid catalyst. 
 
     
     
         6 . An electrochemical fuel cell comprising a Fe—Co hybrid catalyst prepared by a process comprising:
 reacting an ethyleneamine with a cobalt-containing precursor to form a cobalt-containing complex, 
 combining the cobalt-containing complex with an electroconductive carbon supporting material, 
 heating the cobalt-containing complex and carbon supporting material under conditions suitable to convert the cobalt-containing complex and carbon supporting material into a cobalt-containing catalyst support, 
 polymerizing an aniline in the presence of said cobalt-containing catalyst support and an iron-containing compound under conditions suitable to form a supported, cobalt-containing, iron-bound polyaniline species, 
 subjecting said supported, cobalt-containing, iron bound polyaniline species to conditions suitable for producing a Fe—Co hybrid catalyst. 
 
     
     
         7 . A catalyst support comprising a reaction product of an ethyleneamine, a cobalt-containing precursor, and an electroconductive carbon compound, wherein said ethyleneamine is diethylenetriamine. 
     
     
         8 . The catalyst support of claim  19 , wherein the cobalt precursor is Co(NO 3 ) 2 .6H 2 O. 
     
     
         9 . The catalyst support of claim  19 , wherein the electroconductive carbon compound is carbon black.