Electrodeposited
MnO<sub><i>x</i></sub>/PEDOT Composite Thin Films for the
Oxygen Reduction Reaction
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Abstract
Manganese
oxide (MnO<sub><i>x</i></sub>) was anodically coelectrodeposited
with poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) (PEDOT) from an aqueous solution
of Mn(OAc)<sub>2</sub>, 3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene, LiClO<sub>4</sub> and sodium dodecyl sulfate to yield a MnO<sub><i>x</i></sub>/PEDOT composite thin film. The MnO<sub><i>x</i></sub>/PEDOT film showed significant improvement over the MnO<sub><i>x</i></sub> only and PEDOT only films for the oxygen reduction
reaction, with a >0.2 V decrease in onset and half-wave overpotential
and >1.5 times increase in current density. Furthermore, the MnO<sub><i>x</i></sub>/PEDOT films were competitive with commercial
benchmark 20% Pt/C, outperforming it in the half-wave ORR region and
exhibiting better electrocatalytic selectivity for the oxygen reduction
reaction upon methanol exposure. The high activity of the MnO<sub><i>x</i></sub>/PEDOT composite is attributed to synergistic
charge transfer capabilities, attained by coelectrodepositing MnO<sub><i>x</i></sub> with a conductive polymer while simultaneously
achieving intimate substrate contact