The monomeric and polymeric tetra-aminophthalocyane to, cobalt(II)
species adsorbed onto graphite electrodes are active in electrocatalytic
oxygen reduction. While the monomeric species is unstable, the polymerized
species is an effective and stable reduction catalyst over a wide pH range.
Both the two-electron reduction of oxygen to hydrogen peroxide and the
four-electron reduction of oxygen to water are characterized by cyclic
voltammetry, rotating disc and rotating ring-disc studies with appropriate
theoretical analysis. Some mechanistic information is obtained. This is the
first cobalt phthalocyanine species to provide a four-electron reduction
pathway which exists over a wide pH range and is stable. The stability is
associated with the polymerization since the monomeric species is not
stable.