UC Irvine

This work reports the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) kinetics of metal nanoparticle catalysts between 500 and 600 °C at low oxygen partial pressures. Ex situ and in situ TEM measurements demonstrate catalyzed nanowire growth initially follows linear kinetics; characteristic of being ORR rate limited. The ORR rates of Ag, Au, Cu, Ni, Pd, Rh and Pt measured at 600 °C form a volcano plot versus relative oxidation potential. Cu nanoparticles produce the maximum ORR rate under these conditions.