Yttrium Copper Titanate as a Highly Efficient Electrocatalyst for Oxygen Reduction Reaction in Fuel Cells, Synthesized via Ultrafast Automatic Flame Technique

Abstract

Replacing platinum (Pt) metal-based electrocatalysts used in the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) in fuel cells is an important research topic due to the high cost and scarcity of Pt, which have restricted the commercialization of these clean-energy technologies. The ABO3-type perovskite family of an ACu3Ti4O12 (A = Ca, Y, Bi, and La) polycrystalline material can serve as an alternative electrocatalyst for the ORR in terms of low-cost, activity, and stability. These perovskite materials may be considered the next generation electro-catalyst for the ORR because of their photocatalytic activity and physical and chemical properties capable of containing a wide range of A- and B-site metals. This paper reports the ORR activity of a new Y2/3Cu3Ti4O12 perovskite, synthesized via a rapid and facile automatic flame synthesis technique using rotating disk electrode (RDE) measurements. Y2/3Cu3Ti4O12/C has superior ORR activity, stability, and durability compared to commercial Pt/C. The results presented in this article will provide the future perspectives to research based on ACu3Ti4O12 (A = Ca, Y, Bi, Sm, Cd, and La) perovskite as the next generation electro-catalyst for the ORR in various electrochemical devices, such as fuel cells, metal–air batteries, and electrolysis.

Electrocatalytic and photocatalytic activity of CuTiO3 perovskites for complete degradation of methylene blue under sunlight irradiation

“…These bands are related to the Ti ion absorption areas, which have νTi-O/Cu-O and Ti-O-Ti stretching vibrations of 617 cm −1 and 488 cm −1 , respectively. 17,18 The large absorption band at 3131 cm −1 in the FTIR spectra of the photocatalysts is mostly related to the OH vibration from the hydroxyl group, which is most likely due to the water adsorbed on the photocatalysts' surfaces. The hydroxyl groups benefit from trapping holes during sunlight irradiation, resulting in the hydroxyl radical formation and assisting in increasing photocatalytic efficiency.…”