Co(II) or Cu(II) Schiff Base Complex Immobilized onto Carbon Nanotubes as a Synergistic Catalyst for the Oxygen Reduction Reaction

Heterogenization of molecular catalysts not only showed excellent activity and selectivity in many catalytic reactions, but also provided definite active sites feasible to explore the reaction mechanism. Herein, we report a heterogenization of metal Schiff-base complex immobilized on multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) as a high-performance catalyst for the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR). Although MWCNTs alone have little catalytic activity, the heterogenization hybrid exhibits an enhanced ORR activity in alkaline solutions. The enhanced catalytic activity arises from synergetic effects between metal Schiff-base complexes and MWCNTs.