The Effect of Polymer Capping Group to the Electrocatalytic Water Oxidation Activities of Prussian Blue Analogues

Abstract

Prussian Blue (PB) nanoparticles can be obtained by reacting the hexacyanometal centerwith metal ions in the existence of polymers such as polyethyleneglycol (PEG). In this study, apentacyanometal complex, [Fe(CN)5NO]2-, was used in addition to hexacyanometal ion, [Fe(CN)6]3-, toobtain nanoparticles coated with PEG. PB nanoparticles have been prepared, characterized, andcomprehensive electrochemical studies were performed to investigate their performance for wateroxidation electrocatalysis. The effect the ratio of PEG to the morphology and the water oxidationelectrocatalytic performance have also been interrogated. Overall, the study clearly indicates that CoFeNO@PEG with 1:10 and 1:25 Co:PEG rate show the best electrocatalytic activity with anoverpotential of 472 and 489 mV for current density of 1 mA cm-1, respectively.