The Role of Fe in the Preparation of Carbon Alloy Cathode Catalysts

Pyrolysis of iron phthalocyanine/phenolic resin (FePc/PhRs) and phthtalocyanine/phenolic resin (Pc/PhRs) was studied to clarify the effect of Fe during the preparation of carbon alloy cathode catalysts. FePc/PhRs pyrolyzed at 600° showed the best electrocatalytic activity for oxygen reduction. CHN elemental analysis suggests that the catalysts with higher nitrogen content tend to show better catalytic activities. The results of TG/DTA/MS and IR suggest that Fe increases the nitrogen content of the catalysts by enhancing the interaction of phthalocyanine moiety and phenolic resin.