The use of macrocyclic compounds as electrocatalysts in fuel cells

Macrocyclic compounds such as metallophthalocyanines demonstrated good catalytic activities toward electrochemical reactions. The characteristics of the central cations in metallophthalocyanines significantly influenced their electrocatalytic activities. Addition of conjugated polymers in electrodes improved the electrocatalytic activity by enhancing the electric conductivity. The electrocatalytic activities of macrocyclic compounds could be further improved by heat treatment. The formation of metallic clusters or metal containing organic fragments after pyrolyzing played an important role in improving electrocatalytic activities of macrocyclic compounds. It was considered that macrocyclic compounds might be functioned as a precursor to obtain well-distributed metallic clusters or metal containing organic fragments.