Electrochemical behavior of silver-impregnated Al-pillared smectite in alkaline solution

Abstract

In order to enhance silver effectiveness for oxygen reduction reaction, pillared clay was used as a support for silver nanodispersion. Silver particles incorporation into pillared clay pores was attempted by impregnation/ thermal degradation technique. X-ray diffraction as well as adsorption-desorption isotherms confirmed that pillaring procedure was successful. Scanning electron microscopy evidenced that a part of silver appeared outside the pillared clay cavities. Ag-pillared clay composite homogenized with 10 wt.% of nanodispersed carbon black (Vulcan), was applied on a flat glassy carbon surface and used as an electrode material. Oxygen reduction reaction was investigated in an O 2-saturated aqueous 0.1 M NaOH solution. © Springer-Verlag 2009.