Stability and electrocatalytic activity for oxygen reduction in WC plus Ta catalyst

Tantalum (Ta)-added tungsten carbide (WC) (WC+Ta) was examined in order to obtain surperior characteristics instability and electrocatalytic activity for the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) in acid electrolyte. The stability and the electrocatalytic activity of the WC+Ta catalyst were electrochemically investigated and compared to the pure WC. It was proved that the stability of the tungsten carbide was significantly increased by the addition of tantalum compared to the pure WC. The enhanced stability might be due to the formation of the W-Ta alloy in the WC + Ta catalyst. The reduction current of the WC + Ta catalyst for the ORR was observed at a potential of 0.8 V (versus dynamin hydrogen eletrode (DHE)) or less noble potential. This value was about 0.35 V higher than that of the pure WC. The enhanced electrocatalytic activity for the ORR might be caused by the presence of tungsten carbide, which exists on the surface and/or sub-surface. (C) 2004 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.