Hydrated FePO(4) nanoparticles supported on P-doped RGO show enhanced ORR activity compared to their dehydrated form in an alkaline medium

One-step hydrothermal growth of FePO(4) nanoparticles (15–25 nm) uniformly decorated on the P-doped reduced graphene oxide (PRGO) was studied for oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) activity. The role of lattice water in the enhancement of catalytic activity in the hydrated FePO(4)·2H(2)O with respect to its dehydrated form in the alkaline medium was contested. The hydrodynamic LSV at 1600 rpm in alkaline medium (0.1 M KOH electrolyte) indicates an increase in the cathodic current density of the PRGO supported FePO(4)·2H(2)O catalyst, which reaches as high as 5.8 mA cm(−2), close to the best known commercially available Pt/C catalyst. The stability in terms of retention of activity after 22 000 s with the hydrated form was found to be 90.7% which is 26.7% higher than that of the dehydrated form.