“Green” Catalyst for the Oxygen Reduction Reaction in Ecological Metal-Air Systems

Thermally treated caffeine doped active carbon (Caffeine-Norit) is studied as a catalyst for the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) with application in metal-air systems and neutral aqueous electrolytes. Catalytic activity is characterized by polarization curves and Tafel plots and the results are compared with 5% Platinum (5% Pt-Norit) and 4% Silver (4% Ag-Norit) catalysts. The Tafel slopes of all three catalysts are the same, the activity of Ag-Norit being somewhat smaller then both Caffeine-Norit and Pt-Norit. The polarization curves are also comparable, especially in the low current density region. The increase of overpotential for the Caffeine-Norit at current density higher than 50 mA cm^-2 is due to accumulation of H₂O₂ in the catalyst layer. This was demonstrated by using a simple method for detection of peroxides in neutral electrolytes based on indigo carmine indicator.