Investigation of properties of Co porphyrine pyrolysis products and identification of nature of molecular oxygen reduction active centers in basic electrolyte

The methods of X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, benzene vapor-phase adsorption, cyclic voltammetry, rotating disk electrode, and rotating ring-disk electrode were used in this work to investigate the properties of cobalt (II) tetrakis(4-methoxyphenyl)porphyrin pyrolysis products obtained in an inert atmosphere at 850°C on the surface of Vulcan XC72. The effect is considered of the amount of the initial metalloporphyrin, removal of metal-containing pyrolysis products in the course of acid treatment, and thickness of the catalyst layer on the activity and selectivity of the catalysts in O 2 reduction reaction in 1 M KOH. Ideas regarding the nature of active centers for O 2 and HO 2 − reduction are formulated.