Electrochemical characterization of tungsten carbonyl compound for oxygen reduction reaction

Abstract

The results of electrochemical studies carried out on W x (CO) n electrocatalyst are presented in this article. W x (CO) n was synthesized from W(CO) 6 in xylene at 140°C. The kinetic studies were carried out in 0.5 M H 2SO 4 solution under a three-electrode configuration. Linear voltametry studies on W x (CO) n reveal significant catalytic activity of the material for oxygen reduction. Koutecky–Levich analysis of the voltametry data shows that the reaction follows first-order kinetics and the value of the Koutecky–Levich slope indicates a multi-electron charge transfer in the oxygen reduction reaction. The value of Tafel slope is found to be −120 mV/ decade from the mass-transfer-corrected Tafel plots. The charge transfer coefficient and exchange current density were found to be 0.66 and 8.4×10 −5 A/cm 2 , respectively.