Investigation of the oxygen reduction reaction via a hybrid catalyst based on cobalt-lanthanum oxide on a graphite electrode

Fuel cells, batteries, and supercapacitors represent the most efficient and promising technologies for electrochemical energy conversion and storage. However, their production and practical application are primarily constrained by the high cost of materials (65% - 75%), such as noble metals, including platinum, which is commonly used as an electrocatalyst for the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR). Therefore, the investigation of novel materials is crucial for the development of alternative solutions that can compete with existing technologies. The main objective of this study is to investigate ORR electrocatalysts based on cobalt/lanthanum oxides (Co/La material) as alternatives to noble metals for the cathodic reaction. The synthesized material was fabricated as an electrode on a graphite disk with a surface area of 0.196 cm² and tested for the oxygen reduction reaction using standard electrochemical techniques, namely cyclic and linear sweep voltammetry. The results indicate that the hybrid material is a promising electrocatalyst for ORR, achieving a current density of -3.5 mA cm-². The calculated number of exchanged electrons for the Co/La material suggests a four-electron oxygen reduction mechanism and high electrocatalytic activity towards ORR.