Ruthenium-based electrocatalysts for oxygen reduction reaction—a review

A major impediment to the commercialization of fuel cells is the low activity of electrocatalysts for the oxygen reduction reaction that involves multiple electron transfer steps. Platinum is considered the best cathode catalyst toward oxygen reduction to water; however, Pt remains an expensive meta...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of solid state electrochemistry 2007-10, Vol.11 (10), p.1355-1364
Main Authors: Lee, Jong-Won, Popov, Branko N.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Catalysts
Catalytic activity
Chemical reduction
Commercialization
Electrocatalysts
Electron transfer
Fuel cells
Oxygen reduction reactions
Ruthenium compounds
Selectivity
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Summary:A major impediment to the commercialization of fuel cells is the low activity of electrocatalysts for the oxygen reduction reaction that involves multiple electron transfer steps. Platinum is considered the best cathode catalyst toward oxygen reduction to water; however, Pt remains an expensive metal of low abundance, and it is of great importance to find Pt-free metal alternatives. Among various Pt-free catalysts under development, ruthenium-based compounds show significant catalytic activity and selectivity for four-electron reduction of oxygen to water in acidic environments. This article provides a short review on the different classes of Ru-based catalysts focusing on the catalytically active reaction sites and the oxygen reduction mechanism in acidic media. After a brief discussion of the oxygen reduction kinetics on a pure Ru metal, the paper reviews the catalytic properties of the selected Ru compounds, including crystalline Chevrel-phase chalcogenides, nanostructured Ru and Ru–Se clusters, and Ru–N chelate compounds.
ISSN:1432-8488
1433-0768
DOI:10.1007/s10008-007-0307-3