Non-noble metal-carbonized aerogel composites as electrocatalysts for the oxygen reduction reaction

Non-noble metal-based electrocatalysts have been examined for their electrocatalytic activity toward the reduction of oxygen. These materials were prepared from highly porous polyacrylonitrile microcellular foams containing a salt of iron or cobalt, followed by carbonisation. In common with Pt/C, iron or cobalt-carbonized aerogel nanocomposites show good electrocatalytic activity for the oxygen reduction in acidic solutions. (C) 2003 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.