Nanoscale Catalysts Based on Metal Chalcogenide Cobalt Clusters for Reduction of Oxygen in Alkaline Media

Nanoscale catalysts based on cluster compounds of cobalt with tellurium and selenium Co3(PhTe)5(CO)4 and [(C5HMe4)]2Co3(PhSe)6, as well as iron-containing C5HMe4CoSe2Fe2(CO)7 and C5HMe4CoTe2Fe2(CO)7, deposited onto a Vulcan XC-72 highly dispersed carbon substrate from organic solutions and subjected to subsequent thermal destruction are developed. The obtained catalysts are characterized by X-ray diffraction analysis, energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, and scanning electron microscopy. The activity of the obtained catalysts in the electrochemical reaction of oxygen reduction in 0.1 M KOH is studied. It is shown that the reduction of oxygen at the obtained catalysts predominantly proceeds according to a four-electron mechanism, while the metal chalcogenide catalysts are tolerant to the presence of methanol in the electrolyte as opposed to a Pt(20%)/C standard platinum catalyst (E-TEK).