Effect of porosity and active area on the assessment of catalytic activity of non-precious metal electrocatalyst for oxygen reduction.

We describe a method to study porous thin-films deposited onto rotating disc electrodes (RDE) applied to non-platinum group electrocatalyst obtained by pyrolysis of iron phthalocyanine and carbon, FePc/C. The electroactive area and porous properties of the thin film electrodes were obtained using electrochemical impedance spectroscopy under the framework of de Levie impedance model. The electrocatalytic activity of different electrodes was correlated to the total electroactive area () and the penetration ratio parameter through the film under ac current.

Metal Nanoparticle Enhancement of Electron Transfer to Tethered Redox Centers through Self-Assembled Molecular Films.

Metal-nanoparticle-mediated electron transfer (ET) across an insulator thin film containing nanoparticles with attached redox centers was studied using electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. Specifically, a gold spherical microelectrode was modified with 16-amino-1-hexa-decanethiol, creating an insulator film. This was followed by the electrostatic adsorption of gold nanoparticles and the covalent attachment of Os redox centers.