Nanostructured copper particles-incorporated Nafion-modified electrode for oxygen reduction

Abstract

The electrocatalytic activity of nanostructured copper particles (represented as Cu_nano) incorporated Nafion (Nf) film-coated glassy carbon (GC) electrode (GC/Nf/Cu_nano) towards oxygen reduction was investigated in oxygenated 0.1 M phosphate buffer (pH 7.2). The electrodeposited Cu_nano in Nf film was characterized by atomic force microscopy (AFM) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The electrocatalytic activity of Cu_nano at the modified electrode towards oxygen reduction was studied using cyclic voltammetry technique. The molecular oxygen reduction at the GC/Nf/Cu_nano-modified electrode started at a more positive potential than at a bare GC electrode. A possible reaction mechanism was proposed in which oxygen reduction may proceed through two-step two-electron processes at the GC/Nf/Cu_nano electrode. The GC/Nf/Cu_nano electrode shows higher stability for oxy gen reduction in neutral solution and the electrode may find applications in fuel cells.