Influence of metal ions on the electrocatalytic oxygen reduction of carbon materials prepared from pyrolyzed polyacrylonitrile

The influence of transition metal ions during a thermal process in which electrocatalysts are made from polyacrylonitrile is discussed. The electrocatalysts were applied on appropriate carbon supports and used for the cathodic oxygen reduction in acid and alkaline electrolytes. Results concerning the electrocatalitic properties of these materials in self-breathing oxygen electrodes as well as the long-term behaviour and the metal dissolution are compared.