The purpose of this study is to propose a new strategy based on electrodeposition to create binder-free composites of metallic silver supported on MnO2. The process involves in situ reduction of the Ag+ ions incorporated in the interlayer spaces of layered MnO2 in an alkaline electrolyte without Ag+ ions. The reduction process of the incorporated Ag+ was monitored in situ based on the characteristic surface plasmon resonance in the visible region, and the resulting metallic Ag was identified by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. Because the formation of metallic Ag is only possible via electron injection into the Ag+ ions between MnO2 layers, the growth of Ag metals was inevitably limited, although the reduced Ag did not remain immobilized in the interlayers of MnO2. The thus-formed Ag in the MnO2 composite functioned as an electrocatalyst for the oxygen reduction reaction in a gas diffusion electrode system, showing a much better mass activity compared to Ag particles electrodeposited from an aqueous solution containing AgNO3.
© 2022 The Authors. Published by American Chemical Society.