Composites of the ion-exchange membrane MF-4SC with metal nanoparticles and activated carbon Norit 30 in the oxygen electroreduction reaction

Abstract

We have worked out the kinetics of the oxygen reduction reaction on the composite particulate
metal (Ag, Cu) – exchange membrane MF-4SK – activated carbon Norit 30 by the rotating disk electrode
technique. The composite was characterized by scanning electron microscopy and energy dispersive
microanalysis. We have found that the maximum mass fraction of deposited metal is 0.3 % at 13% of the
content of the membrane and ~ 87 % active carbon content and is not affected by the number of subsequent
cycles of saturation – reduction. We have selected activated carbon Norit 30 as carbon filler, which has an
order of magnitude larger surface area and a developed system of micro-and mesopores compared to
common types of carbon blacks (Vulcan XC-72, UM-76, P-267E). It is shown that the exchange currents
which were calculated by true surface area of the metal particles have the same order as the catalysts based
on UM-76 filler. It is shown that the oxygen reduction reaction on the obtained composite take part the
2.5÷2.9 electrons.