Russian and Indian scientists develop cost-effective hybrid composite for oxygen electrocatalysis

A team of researchers from the Department of Medicinal Chemistry and Fine Organic Synthesis at Lomonosov Moscow State University, in collaboration with scientists from Vijayanagara Sri Krishnadevaraya University in India, has synthesised an affordable hybrid composite for oxygen electrocatalysis. This is reported by Russian Academy of Sciences.

The advancement of green energy technologies is closely tied to innovations that reduce dependence on fossil fuels. One promising area of research involves regenerative fuel cells, water electrolysers, and metal-air batteries, which are valued for their ability to generate continuous energy output, high power density, and carbon-neutral emissions. These technologies rely on the cathodic oxygen reduction reaction, with oxygen typically supplied by electrolysis.

According to Tatyana Dubinina, a senior researcher at Moscow State University’s Laboratory of Bioelement Organic Chemistry, previous studies in their laboratory focused on tetrapyrrole dyes with promising electrochemical properties. Their Indian colleagues, who specialise in fuel cell research, proposed testing these compounds as oxygen reduction reaction catalysts.

In their initial study, the team investigated brominated cobalt phthalocyanine, which, due to its dielectric organic component, required a conductive layer. To address this, they incorporated Ketjen black carbon nanoparticles, resulting in a bifunctional composite capable of facilitating both oxygen reduction and oxygen transport. The material demonstrated performance comparable to, or even exceeding, precious metal-based alternatives, while being significantly more cost-effective.

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