Facile potentiostatic preparation of functionalized polyterthiophene-anchored graphene oxide as a metal-free electrocatalyst for the oxygen reduction reaction

The development of new catalysts for high-performance, cost-effective oxygen reduction is crucial in the commercialization of fuel cells. We demonstrate here the use of functionalized polyterthiophene-anchored graphene oxide (GO) composites as new non-metal catalysts for the oxygen reduction reaction. Different functional groups containing the monomers 3′-(2-aminopyrimidyl)-2,2′:5′,2′′-terthiophene (APT), 3′-(p-benzoic acid)-2,2′:5′,2′′-terthiophene (TBA) and 3′-(carboxylic acid)-2,2′:5′,2′′-terthiophene (TCA) were synthesized and polymerized with as-prepared GO to form complexes by a potential cycling method. The aminopyrimidyl groups on the poly(APT) backbone served as effective functional groups in the oxygen reduction reaction. The APT–GO complex was formed through hydrogen bonding and a ring-opening reaction of the epoxide group with the amine to form a new C–N bond. It was observed that the C–N bond in the polymer matrix was involved in the direct electrocatalytic reduction of O2 to H2O. The poly(APT–GO) composite showed much better tolerance to fuel cross-over and long-term electrode stability than commercially available Pt/C electrodes.

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