pubs.acs.

org/jchemeduc Laboratory Experiment

Multielectron Electrode Reaction Kinetics with RDE and RRDE: An

Advanced Electrochemical Laboratory Experiment
Chengjun Li, Qizheng Zheng, Qin Xiang, Li Yu, Peng Chen, Danmei Gao, Qinsong Liu, Fengling He,
Danmei Yu, Yuping Liu,* and Changguo Chen*
Cite This: https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.jchemed.1c00202 Read Online

ACCESS Metrics & More Article Recommendations *

sı Supporting Information
See https://pubs.acs.org/sharingguidelines for options on how to legitimately share published articles.

ABSTRACT: Oxygen reduction reaction (ORR), as a multi-

Downloaded via DONGGUK UNIV SEOUL on August 16, 2021 at 00:48:43 (UTC).

electron electrode reaction, is an important electrochemical

reaction in the field of electrochemical energy storage systems.
Herein, a new advanced electrochemical laboratory experiment is
designed for undergraduates to master the preparation of oxygen
reduction catalytic electrode. Students can use rotating disk
electrode (RDE) and rotating ring-disk electrode (RRDE) to
evaluate the properties of the ORR catalyst and expound the
kinetics mechanism of multielectron electrode reaction. By fitting
the K−L curve to calculate the electron transfer number, the ORR
reaction path of the industrial Pt/C catalyst in the KOH electrolyte
can be determined. The basic kinetic parameters of the ORR and
the intermediate content will help students to deeply understand
the Butler−Volmer equation. The new teaching experiment
focuses on the integration of frontier scientific research and undergraduate teaching. This experiment may enhance students’
interest in learning electrochemistry and broadening their horizons as well as help them understand the ORR mechanism involved in
modern electrochemical testing technology. In addition, the student’s ability of data processing and comprehensive analysis will be
improved. This new comprehensive experiment is a fundamental, innovative, and systematic physical chemistry experiment.
KEYWORDS: Upper-Division Undergraduate, Learning Theories, Hands-On Learning/Manipulatives,
Laboratory Equipment/Apparatus, Electrochemistry, Oxidation/Reduction

■ INTRODUCTION
Electrochemistry is a science that studies the interface
effectively evaluate the electrochemical performance of the
catalyst but also investigate the reaction kinetics mechanism of
phenomenon and charge transfer characteristic between two complex electrode reaction. However, RDE and RRDE are
rarely applied to undergraduate experimental courses.
conductors. However, the principles of electrochemistry are
As a powerful analysis technology, RDE and RRDE are
rather profound and difficult for students to understand. In
indispensable for investigating the ORR reaction. ORR is one
recent years, many electrochemical experiments have been
of the most important electrode reactions in air electrodes.5 In
published and designed for undergraduates.1−3 These electro-
fuel cells and metal/air batteries (also known as metal fuel
chemical experiments are essential tools for students to master
cells), the air electrode as positive electrode is the main
the electrochemical theory and measurement technology.
bottleneck to affect the performance of the battery. There are
Up to now, rotating disk electrode (RDE) and rotating ring-
two issues about the ORR of the air electrode, namely, slow
disk electrode (RRDE) have been extensively used in modern
kinetics6−9 and reaction pathway diversity, leading to low
electroanalytical chemistry and electrode dynamics research.
exchange current density and high overpotential on the
Since the 1940s, people have done a lot of research on the
positive electrode as well as slow discharge rate. Under acidic
hydrodynamic model and mass transfer equation of RDE. The
(or neutral, alkaline) condition, ORR is a multielectron
more related knowledge of RDE and RRDE is described in
Figures S1 and S2 in the Supporting Information. Through
RDE,4 the electrolyte around the electrode/electrolyte inter- Received: March 11, 2021
face can be stirred uniformly to avoid uneven current density Revised: July 31, 2021
distribution. In the research on oxygen reduction reaction
(ORR), RDE and RRDE play a significant role in modern
electrochemical measurement. The electrochemical measure-
ment technologies based on RDE and RRDE can not only
© XXXX American Chemical Society and
Division of Chemical Education, Inc. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.jchemed.1c00202
A J. Chem. Educ. XXXX, XXX, XXX−XXX
Journal of Chemical Education pubs.acs.org/jchemeduc
transfer electrode reaction consisting of 4e− or 2e− reaction
pathway. Generally speaking, ORR involves in the mixed
reaction mechanism of 2e− reaction and 4e− reaction in
practical application. However, the H2O2 intermediate is
founded in the 2e− pathway, which reduces the efficiency of
O2 reduction. Therefore, the novel ORR catalyst with high
catalytic activity and 4e− reaction path has drawn great
attention in electrochemical research.10,11
Relying on RDE and RRDE, the new electrochemical
laboratory experiment is designed to evaluate the electro-
chemical performance and reaction mechanism of ORR
though cyclic voltammetry (CV),12 linear sweep voltammetry
(LSV), and chronoamperometric method (j−t). Though LSV,
the electron transfer coefficient of ORR can be calculated by
fitting the K−L equation to elaborate the reaction pathway. By
Tafel curve, the basic kinetic parameters13 of ORR can be
analyzed including exchange current density j0 and transfer
coefficient α. On the basis of RRDE, students can obtain the
productivity, collection rate, electron transfer number, reaction
mechanism of the intermediates, and the reaction pathway. In
brief, this electrochemical laboratory experiment promotes the
students to understand and master the multiple knowledge
points in electrochemical theory such as gas electrode,
multielectron transfer electrode reaction, Butler−Volmer
equation, and electrocatalysis. It also helps to establish a
complete theoretical system of electrode dynamics. Addition-
ally, Origin software is employed to process and analyze the
experimental datum in favor of improving students’ data
processing ability and cultivating innovative talents.
■ EXPERIMENTAL SECTION
Preparation before Experiment
We suggest that students work in groups of four. Before the
experiment, 0.1 M KOH, 5 M CH3OH, 0.5% Nafion/
isopropanol, 0.5 M H2SO4, and dilute nitric acid solution
need to be prepared. Then each student should polish the
glassy carbon electrode, ultrasonically clean the glassy carbon
electrode with ultrapure water, dilute nitric acid solution, and
ethanol solution for 2−3 min. Finally, the glassy carbon
electrode is cleaned with ultrapure water and dried for later
use.
Electrode Catalyst Preparation
The mixing solution is obtained by adding the commercialized
20 wt % Pt/C catalyst (5.0 mg), 500 μL of ethanol, and 125 μL
of 0.05 wt % Nafion/isopropanol solution to a 5 mL centrifuge
tube.14 Then the resulting solution is mixed and sonicated for
30 min to form the catalyst ink. The catalyst ink is dropped
onto the surface of the RDE by a micropipette to prepare the
electrode (Φ5.0 mm, geometric surface area is 0.19625 cm2).15
The overall catalyst loading is 127 μg/cm2, and the
corresponding Pt loading is 25 μg/cm2.
Electrochemical Measurement Based on RDE
Catalytic Electrode Pretreatment. This experiment is
carried out using the standard three-electrode system at room
temperature. The three-electrode system is composed of the
RDE electrode coated by the above-mentioned catalyst on the
surface of glassy carbon as working electrode and the AgCl/Ag
electrode as reference electrode as well as the platinum wire
electrode as the counter electrode. The electrode potential
versus AgCl/Ag is converted to reversible hydrogen electrode
through the formula (ERHE = Ea + Eb + 0.0592PH; Ea is the
B https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.jchemed.1c00202
Laboratory Experiment
electrode potential of AgCl/Ag electrode (saturated), Eb is the
measured potential). Before the electrochemical test, the
dissolved oxygen in the electrolyte is removed by introducing
the high purity nitrogen gas. In the N2-saturated 0.1 M KOH
electrolyte, the electrochemical activation of the catalyst on
glass-carbon is conducted by CV in a potential range of 0.0−
1.2 V (vs RHE) at a scanning rate of 50 mV/s until a stable
cyclic voltammetry (CV) curve is obtained. As for RDE and
RRDE, the LSV responses in N2-saturated electrolyte (not
Faraday current) is performed at 50 mV s−1 in the range of
0.0−1.0 V (vs RHE) to subtract the LSV responses in O2-
saturated electrolyte.
Polarization Curve Measurement Based on RDE.
Before the LSV measurement, the high pure oxygen gas is
injected into KOH electrolyte for 30 min to obtain O2-
saturated electrolyte. In the process of the test, the high pure
oxygen gas should be continuously entered into the electrolyte
to maintain the oxygen saturation of KOH electrolyte. Then
the students assemble the three-electrode system and connect
it with the electrochemical workstation CHI 760E. The LSV
curves are monitored in the potential range from 1.2 to 0.0 V
(vs RHE) at the scanning rate of 10 mV s−1 at various rotation
rates of 400, 625, 900, 1225, 1600, 2025, and 2500 rmp min−1,
respectively.16
Methanol Resistance Test. The j−t curve is recorded by
the constant potential method to evaluate the performance of
methanol resistance for the ORR catalyst.17 Owing to the loss
of electrochemical activity of commercial Pt/C at 0.6 V (or 0.7
V) (vs RHE), a constant voltage of 0.6 V (or 0.7 V) (vs RHE)
is imposed to the working electrode in O2-saturated 0.1 M
KOH electrolyte with a rotation rate of 1600 rpm min−1 for
1000 s. In this process, 0.5 mL of 5 M CH3OH solution (or
pure CH3OH) is added into at 400, 700 s, respectively.
Meanwhile, the change of current density should be observed
before and after the addition of CH3OH to confirm the
methanol resistance of the catalyst.
Electrochemical Measurement of Catalysts Based on
RRDE. The LSV curves are performed in O2-saturated 0.1 M
KOH electrolyte using RRDE to calculate the collection rate,
electron transfer number, and yield of intermediate HO2−. The
disk potential is scanned from 1.2 to 0.0 V (vs RHE), and the
platinum ring potential is fixed at 1.4 V (vs RHE) with a
rotation speed of 1600 rpm min−1 at a sweep rate of 5 mV s−1.
The ring electrode potential is higher than the disk electrode
potential to collect the signal of hydrogen peroxide ions
oxidation. The ring electrode potential higher than 1.2 V can
ensure the oxidation of hydrogen peroxide ions diffusing from
the disk electrode to the ring electrode.
■
HAZARDS
Students need to understand the hazards before this experi-
ment. Nitric acid is a strong, highly corrosive acid to skin and
mucous membranes. The students should avoid direct contact
with nitric acid. Because of strong oxidative properties,
hydrogen peroxide causes a strong exothermic explosion
when meeting with a combustible material. The organic
compounds, such as methanol and ethanol, possess combus-
tible characteristics, keep away from fire sources. Methanol is
detrimental to human health such as human nervous system
and blood system. Methanol vapor can damage the respiratory
mucosa and vision. Specially, methanol easily causes the toxic
reactions when ingested through the digestive tract, respiratory
tract, or skin.
J. Chem. Educ. XXXX, XXX, XXX−XXX
Journal of Chemical Education pubs.acs.org/jchemeduc Laboratory Experiment

Figure 1. (A) Cyclic voltammograms and (B) LSV curve for the Pt/C catalyst in 0.1 M KOH electrolyte.

Figure 2. (A) LSV curve and (B) K−L curve of the Pt/C catalyst at various rotating rates.

■ RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

Evaluation of Oxygen Reduction Reaction Activity
First, cyclic voltammogram is adopted to monitor the stability
of the O2-saturated electrolyte and ensure the accuracy and
repeatability of this experiment based on RDE. Figure 1A and
B show the cyclic voltammograms and LSV curves of the Pt/C
catalyst in O2-saturated 0.1 M KOH electrolyte, respectively.
In Figure 1A, the CV curves are overlapped in the subsequent
cycles, indicating the gas O2 is saturated in the electrolyte. In
Figure 1A, there is a pair of redox peaks in the potential range
of 0−0.4 V, which corresponds to hydrogen adsorption/
desorption. In the potential range of 0.4−0.8 V, the CV curve
is assigned to the double-layer potential regions. There is a pair
of redox peaks in the potential range of 0.8−1 V, which
corresponds to O2 gas evolution/reduction. As can be also
seen in Figure 1B that the analysis of the LSV curve for the Pt/
C catalyst comes to the following conclusion:
(a) In Figure 1B, the LSV curve is divided into three
regions: kinetic control region and mixed control region
of kinetic/diffusion as well as diffusion control region. In
the kinetic control region, no peak is observed, and the
current density generated is very small higher than 0.9 V,
indicating the ORR rate is very slow. The mixed control
region of kinetic and diffusion in Figure 1B corresponds
to a reduction peak of the CV curve in the potential
range of 0.75−0.9 V in Figure 1A. In Figure 1B, the
current density is greatly increased as the potential value
decreased, demonstrating that the reaction rate of ORR
receiving electron is gradually improved and the oxygen
reduction rate greatly depends on the intrinsic kinetic
C https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.jchemed.1c00202
rate and the diffusion rate of oxygen. After the potential
is negatively shifted to diffusion control region, the
current density has no obvious change. The result
implies that the intrinsic kinetics reaction rate of the
ORR greatly exceeds the diffusion rate of oxygen from
the electrolyte bulk to the electrode surface. In this case,
the key step of ORR is determined by the diffusion rate
of oxygen. Thus, the limiting current density of ORR
occurs in the high overpotential region.
(b) From Figure 1B, the onset potential, half-wave potential
and the limiting current density of LSV is 0.9 V, 0.8 V
(vs RHE), and 5.7 mA/cm2, respectively. It is common
knowledge that the higher the onset potential and the
half wave potential, the better the catalytic activity of
ORR catalyst.18,19 The Pt/C catalyst displays high onset
potential and half-wave potential, suggesting good
electrocatalytic activity. Therefore, the catalytic activity
of the Pt/C electrode can be evaluated by LSV curve.
Calculation of Electron Transfer Number
Figure 2A and B show the LSV and K−L curves of the Pt/C
catalyst at various rotating rates in the O2-saturated 0.1 M
KOH electrolyte, respectively. In Figure 2A, the limiting
current densities at various rotating rates occur at a high
overpotential region. As illustrated in Figure 2A, the current
density has a linear positive correlation with the rotating rate in
the mixing control region and the diffusion control region. The
electrochemical phenomenon for the Pt/C catalyst is
conductive to studying the kinetic process of ORR.
The K−L curve shows good linear relation and parallel
relation (see Figure 2B) in the potential range of 0.5 V ∼ 0.1
J. Chem. Educ. XXXX, XXX, XXX−XXX
Journal of Chemical Education pubs.acs.org/jchemeduc Laboratory Experiment

V. This result demonstrates that all the electron transfer

numbers for the Pt/C catalyst at different polarization
potentials are equal during the reduction reaction of O2
molecule. At the polarization potential of 0.1 V, the kinetic
parameters of oxygen reduction electrode are listed at different
rotating rates (Table 1). The students can also get similar

Table 1. Electrochemical Parameters by Fitting the K−L

Curvesa
speed (rpm) ω−1/2 j (mA/cm2) j−1 (cm2/mA)
400 0.155 2.881 0.3471
625 0.124 3.582 0.2792
900 0.103 4.225 0.2367
1225 0.088 4.896 0.2042
1600 0.077 5.568 0.1796
2025 0.068 6.224 0.1607
2500 0.062 6.882 0.1453
Slope 1/B Intercept 1/ jk n jk
Figure 3. Tafel curve for the Pt/C catalyst at 1600 rpm.
2.149 0.0126 4.226 79.37
a
K−L equation: j−1 = 2.149ω−1/2 + 0.0126.
difficulty degree of the electrode reaction, representing the
parameters at other polarization potentials. According to
intrinsic dynamic characteristics of the electrode reaction in
formula S1, the values of j−1 at 0.1, 0.2, 0.3, 0.4, and 0.5 V are
the equilibrium state. The larger the ORR exchange current
plotted against ω−1/2. Furthermore, the K−L curves are fitted
density, the better the electrochemical reaction efficiency.
to obtain n and jk in reference to the Supporting Information
These important parameters prove good electrocatalytic
(ω is rotation angular velocity of disk electrode, n is electron
properties of the Pt/C catalyst on the electrochemical
transfer number involved in electrochemical reactions, j is
reduction oxygen. Therefore, the critical reaction control step
polarization current density, jk is kinetic current density, jd is
of ORR is the charge transfer in the low overpotential region.
diffusion-limited current density). The kinetic parameters of
With the declining of the polarization potential, the over-
the ORR at different polarization potentials are summarized as
potential is increased and the charge transfer rate becomes
follows (Table 2). In addition, an average slope fitted by the
faster. In the high overpotential region, the O2 diffusion rate
cannot be followed up with the charge transfer rate and the O2
Table 2. Comparison of K−L Curves at Different diffusion gradually transforms to the main reaction control
Polarization Potentials step.
jk Kinetics of ORR Based on RRDE
potential V (vs RHE) K−L equation n (cm2/mA)
RRDE is another important electrochemical measurement
0.1 j−1 = 2.149 ω−1/2 + 0.0126 4.226 79.37
technology to quantitatively analyze the reaction path of ORR
0.2 j−1 = 2.208 ω−1/2 + 0.0126 4.113 79.37
with the electrochemical catalyst. RRDE can detect whether
0.3 j−1 = 2.187 ω−1/2 + 0.0127 4.152 78.74
the intermediate HO2− (or H2O2) is generated in the process
0.4 j−1 = 2.150 ω−1/2 + 0.0156 4.224 64.10
of oxygen reduction reaction. According to the values of the
0.5 j−1 = 2.129 ω−1/2 + 0.0216 4.265 46.30
disk current and the ring current, the electron transfer number
of oxygen reduction and the peroxide yield can be calculated.
K−L curve is 2.165, and then the electron transfer number n of In this Experimental Section, the students adopt RRDE to
ORR with the Pt/C catalyst is approximately 4 (Table 2). The measure the LSV curve of the Pt/C catalyst. Figure 4 shows
value reveals that the reaction pathway of the ORR with the the LSV curve for the Pt/C catalyst in 0.1 M KOH on RRDE.
Pt/C catalyst is 4e− path in the diffusion region, namely the The current densities of jr and jd are assigned to the current
direct reduction of O2 to OH− in the case of the Pt/C catalyst. densities of ring and disk, respectively. As can be shown in
Calculation of Reaction Transfer Coefficient and Exchange Figure 4, the small ring current verifies the 4e− pathway of
Current Density ORR for the Pt/C catalyst. In the process of ORR, the oxygen
Figure 3 displays the Tafel curve for Pt/C catalyst at 1600 rpm gas is directly reduced to OH−, accompanying with the
in the O2-saturated 0.1 M KOH electrolyte at 22 °C. In the generation of the very few intermediate HO2−. In the region of
Tafel equation, the Tafel curve slope k is 2.3RT/αnF according limiting current density, the collection rate (Nc), yield (HO2−
to the formula S3. The Tafel curve can be classified into two %), and the electron transfer coefficient (n) of intermediate are
parts (see Figure 3A). In the low overpotential region, the calculated by the disk current and the ring current on basis of
Tafel curve slope k is 63.91 mV/dec with the transfer the equations as follows:
coefficient of 0.61 and the exchange current density of j0 = 7.6 2.303RT 0 2.303RT
× 10−8 mA/cm2. In the high overpotential region, the Tafel Cathode overpotential: η = − lgj +
αnF αnF
curve slope k is 192 mV/dec with the transfer coefficient of 0.2
and the exchange current density j0 of 8.1 × 10−4 mA/cm2. 4 × |jd |
The exchange current density j0 is a physical quantity to Electron transfer number: n =
|jd | + jr /N
quantitatively describe the reversibility and the polarization
D https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.jchemed.1c00202
J. Chem. Educ. XXXX, XXX, XXX−XXX
Journal of Chemical Education
Figure 4. LSV curves for the Pt/C catalyst in 0.1 M KOH based on
RRDE.
200 × jr /N
Intermediate yield: HO2−% =
|jd | + jr /N
jr
Platinum ring collection rate: Nc =
jd
where j0 is exchange current density (mA/cm2), α is the
transfer coefficient of the reduction reaction, jd is the disk
current density (mA/cm2), jr is the ring current density (mA/
cm2), and N is the collection rate of the RRDE electrode.
The collection rate and the yield of intermediate HO2− is
0.89% and 4.7%, respectively. The electron transfer number of
ORR for the Pt/C catalyst reaches up to 3.91, close to the
expected value of 4.0. Consequently, the electrochemical
reaction mechanism on the disk is expressed as
O2 + 2H 2O + 4e− → 4OH−
O2 + 2e− + H 2O → HO−2 + OH−
The electrochemical reaction on the ring is written as
HO−2 → O2 + H + + 2e−
Optional Step
To explore the concept of catalyst poisoning, the durability test
of Pt/C for methanol was conducted at 400 s and 700 s. As can
be exhibited in Figure 5, the current density instantaneously
jumped down to a low value with the addition of methanol at
400 s. When the methanol is added into the electrolyte at 700
s, the current signal takes a step again, denoting the attenuation
of the ORR activity by the methanol poisoning the Pt/C
catalyst.20 Students are trained to master the j−t measurement
to determine the methanol resistance of the Pt/C catalyst.
■ CONCLUSION
On the basis of RDE and RRDE, the cyclic voltammetry, linear
sweep, and chronoamperometry methods were adopted to
investigate the kinetics and reaction pathway of the multi-
electron transfer electrode reaction-ORR in this experiment. As
for RDE, the Pt/C catalyst shows good electrocatalytic activity
for ORR in O2-saturated 0.1 M KOH solution, and the
pubs.acs.org/jchemeduc Laboratory Experiment
Figure 5. Durability test of Pt/C for methanol.
electron transfer number (n ≈ 4) of the ORR can be obtained
by fitting the K−L curve. According to the Butler−Volmer
equation, in the low overpotential region, the slope of the Tafel
curve is 64 mV/dec with the transfer coefficient of 0.6 and the
exchange current density of 7.6 × 10−8 mA/cm2. In the high
overpotential region, the slope is 192 mV/dec with the transfer
coefficient of 0.2 and the exchange current density of 8.1 ×
10−4 mA/cm2. As for RRDE, the collection rate of the
intermediate HO2− is 0.89% and the intermediate yield
HO2−% is 4.7% with the electron transfer number n of 3.91.
The electron transfer numbers of the ORR on RDE and RRDE
are approximately 4, which proves that the ORR proceeds in
the 4e− reaction pathway. Through this experiment, the
undergraduates can learn the basic principles and measurement
methods of advanced RDE and RRDE and then master the
preparation and performance evaluation of oxygen reduction
catalytic electrode. In summary, the new physical chemistry
experiment integrates frontier scientific research with funda-
mental teaching into the electrochemical experiment course to
help students understand the ORR mechanism.
■
*
ASSOCIATED CONTENT
sı Supporting Information
The Supporting Information is available at https://pubs.ac-
s.org/doi/10.1021/acs.jchemed.1c00202.
Principles of RDE and RRDE in literature; additional
experimental instructions; information on reagents,
instruments, and data processing method (PDF,
DOCX)
■
AUTHOR INFORMATION
Corresponding Authors
Yuping Liu − College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering,
Chongqing University, Chongqing 401331, China;
orcid.org/0000-0002-7763-7988; Email: liuyuping@
cqu.edu.cn
Changguo Chen − College of Chemistry and Chemical
Engineering, Chongqing University, Chongqing 401331,
China; orcid.org/0000-0001-7896-7156;
Email: cgchen@cqu.edu.cn
E https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.jchemed.1c00202
J. Chem. Educ. XXXX, XXX, XXX−XXX
Journal of Chemical Education
Authors
Chengjun Li − College of Chemistry and Chemical
Engineering, Chongqing University, Chongqing 401331,
China
Qizheng Zheng − College of Chemistry and Chemical
Engineering, Chongqing University, Chongqing 401331,
China
Qin Xiang − College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering,
Chongqing University, Chongqing 401331, China
Li Yu − College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering,
Chongqing University, Chongqing 401331, China
Peng Chen − College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering,
Chongqing University, Chongqing 401331, China
Danmei Gao − College of Chemistry and Chemical
Engineering, Chongqing University, Chongqing 401331,
China
Qinsong Liu − College of Chemistry and Chemical
Engineering, Chongqing University, Chongqing 401331,
China
Fengling He − College of Chemistry and Chemical
Engineering, Chongqing University, Chongqing 401331,
China
Danmei Yu − College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering,
Chongqing University, Chongqing 401331, China
Complete contact information is available at:
https://pubs.acs.org/10.1021/acs.jchemed.1c00202
Notes
The authors declare no competing financial interest.
■
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
This research is supported by Chongqing Higher Education
Teaching Reform Research Project (203213) and National
Natural Science Foundation of China under Grant No.
21406021.
■ REFERENCES
(1) Ventura, K.; Smith, M. B.; Prat, J. R.; Echegoyen, L. E.; Villagrán,
D. Introducing Students to Inner Sphere Electron Transfer Concepts
through Electrochemistry Studies in Diferrocene Mixed-Valence
Systems. J. Chem. Educ. 2017, 94 (4), 526−529.
(2) Hendel, S. J.; Young, E. R. Introduction to Electrochemistry and
the Use of Electrochemistry to Synthesize and Evaluate Catalysts for
Water Oxidation and Reduction. J. Chem. Educ. 2016, 93 (11), 1951−
1956.
(3) Tanimoto, S.; Ichimura, A. Discrimination of inner and outer-
sphere electrode reactions by cyclic voltammetry experiments. J.
Chem. Educ. 2013, 90 (6), 778−781.
(4) Nikolic, J.; Expósito, E.; Iniesta, J.; González-Garcia, J.; Montiel,
V. Theoretical Concepts and Applications of a Rotating Disk
Electrode. J. Chem. Educ. 2000, 77 (9), 1191−1194.
(5) Steele, B. C. H.; Heinzel, A. Materials for fuel-cell technologies.
Nature 2001, 414 (6861), 345−352.
(6) Suntivich, J.; May, K. J.; Gasteiger, H. A.; Goodenough, J. B.;
Shao-Horn, Y. A Perovskite Oxide Optimized for Oxygen Evolution
Catalysis from Molecular Orbital Principles. Science 2011, 334 (6061),
1383−1385.
(7) Suntivich, J.; Gasteiger, H. A.; Yabuuchi, N.; Nakanishi, H.;
Goodenough, J. B.; Shao-Horn, Y. Design principles for oxygen-
reduction activity on perovskite oxide catalysts for fuel cells and
metal-air batteries. Nat. Chem. 2011, 3 (7), 546−550.
(8) Bard, A. J.; Faulkner, L. R. Electrochemical Methods: Fundamentals
and Applications, 2nd ed.; John Wiley & Sons: New York, 2001.
pubs.acs.org/jchemeduc Laboratory Experiment
(9) Mayrhofer, K. J. J.; Strmcnik, D.; Blizanac, B. B.; Stamenkovic,
V.; Arenz, M.; Markovic, N. M. Measurement of oxygen reduction
activities via the rotating disc electrode method: From Pt model
surfaces to carbon-supported high surface area catalysts. Electrochim.
Acta 2008, 53 (7), 3181−3188.
(10) Recent trends in fuel cell science and technology. J. Solid State
Electrochem.; Holze, R. S. B., Ed.; 2009, 13 (10), 1623−1624.
(11) Sljukic, B.; Banks, C. E.; Compton, R. G. An overview of the
electrochemical reduction of oxygen at carbon-based modified
electrodes. J. Iran. Chem. Soc. 2005, 2 (1), 1−25.
(12) Elgrishi, N.; Rountree, K. J.; McCarthy, B. D.; Rountree, E. S.;
Eisenhart, T. T.; Dempsey, J. L. A Practical Beginner’s Guide to
Cyclic Voltammetry. J. Chem. Educ. 2018, 95 (2), 197−206.
(13) Stamenkovic, V.; Schmidt, T. J.; Ross, P. N.; Markovic, N. M.
Surface composition effects in electrocatalysis: Kinetics of oxygen
reduction on well-defined Pt3Ni and Pt3Co alloy surfaces. J. Phys.
Chem. B 2002, 106 (46), 11970−11979.
(14) Paulus, U. A.; Schmidt, T. J.; Gasteiger, H. A.; Behm, R. J.
Oxygen reduction on a high-surface area Pt/Vulcan carbon catalyst: a
thin-film rotating ring-disk electrode study. J. Electroanal. Chem. 2001,
495 (2), 134−145.
(15) Schmidt, T. J.; Gasteiger, H. A.; Stab, G. D.; Urban, P. M.;
Kolb, D. M.; Behm, R. J. Characterization of high-surface area
electrocatalysts using a rotating disk electrode configuration. J.
Electrochem. Soc. 1998, 145 (7), 2354−2358.
(16) Paulus, U. A.; Wokaun, A.; Scherer, G. G.; Schmidt, T. J.;
Stamenkovic, V.; Markovic, N. M.; Ross, P. N. Oxygen reduction on
high surface area Pt-based alloy catalysts in comparison to well
defined smooth bulk alloy electrodes. Electrochim. Acta 2002, 47 (22−
23), 3787−3798.
(17) Gong, K.; Du, F.; Xia, Z.; Durstock, M.; Dai, L. Nitrogen-
Doped Carbon Nanotube Arrays with High Electrocatalytic Activity
for Oxygen Reduction. Science 2009, 323 (5915), 760−764.
(18) Jiang, K. Z.; Jia, Q. M.; Xu, M. L.; Wu, D. P.; Yang, L. Q.; Yang,
G. T.; Chen, L. Y.; Wang, G. H.; Yang, X. K. A novel non-precious
metal catalyst synthesized via pyrolysis of polyaniline-coated tungsten
carbide particles for oxygen reduction reaction. J. Power Sources 2012,
219, 249−252.
(19) Liu, M.; Zhang, M.; Zhang, P.; Xing, Z.; Jiang, B.; Yu, Y.; Cai,
Z.; Li, J.; Zou, J. ZIF-67-Derived Dodecahedral Co@N-Doped
Graphitized Carbon Protected by a Porous FeS2 Thin-Layer as an
Efficient Catalyst to Promote the Oxygen Reduction Reaction. ACS
Sustainable Chem. Eng. 2020, 8 (10), 4194−4206.
(20) Tripkovic, A. V.; Popovic, K. D.; Grgur, B. N.; Blizanac, B.;
Ross, P. N.; Markovic, N. M. Methanol electrooxidation on supported
Pt and PtRu catalysts in acid and alkaline solutions. Electrochim. Acta
2002, 47 (22−23), 3707−3714.
F https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.jchemed.1c00202
J. Chem. Educ. XXXX, XXX, XXX−XXX