Fe-C-N Catalysts Prepared by Magnetron Sputtering for Oxygen Reduction Reaction in a Neutral Solution

Abstract

Non-precious metal Fe-C-N thin films were prepared by magnetron sputtering at different sputtering currents applied on a Fe target. The films were subsequently heated at 700 °C in N2atmosphere. Fe-C-N thin films were investigated as an alternative cathode catalyst for the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) in a neutral solution. The results indicated that the catalytic activity of Fe-C-N thin films for the ORR increased with the increase of the sputtering current. When the sputtering current was 0.2 A, limiting current density was 5.50 mA cm-2and onset potential was-0.10 V vs. Ag/AgCl, which were comparable with those of commercial Pt/C catalysts. The current density of films was unchanged in 5000 seconds in the chronoamperometric experiment, indicating that the catalytic activity was very stable in a neutral solution for potential use in microbial fuel cells.