Published online by Cambridge University Press: 13 May 2015
Bifunctional electrocatalysts, which facilitate the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) and oxygen evolution reaction (OER), are vital components in advanced metal-air batteries. Results are presented for carbon-free, nanocrystalline, rod-like, Mn-Co oxide/PEDOT bifunctional electrocatalysts, prepared by template-free sequential anodic electrodeposition. Electrochemical characterization of synthesized electrocatalysts, with and without a conducting polymer (PEDOT) coating, was performed using cyclic voltammetry (CV) and linear sweep voltammetry (LSV). In addition, microstructural characterization was conducted using SEM, TEM, STEM and XPS. Mn-Co oxide/PEDOT showed improved ORR/OER performance relative to Mn-Co oxide and PEDOT. On the basis of rotating disk electrode (RDE) experiments, Mn-Co oxide/PEDOT displayed the desired 4-electron transfer oxygen reduction pathway. Comparable ORR activity and superior OER activity relative to commercial Pt/C were observed.