• Journal of the Mineralogical Society of Korea
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.1-9
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• 2005

The electrocatalytic reduction of O₂ was investigated with methyl viologen and methylene blue incorporated clay-modified electrodes. Clay suspensions were prepared with Na-montmorillonite, Ca-montmorillonite, and kaolinite. The methyl viologen-clay modified electrodes were made by coating clay suspensions adsorbing methyl viologen on a glassy carbon electrode. Cyclic voltammetry were performed in aqueous media to investigate the electrocatalytic property of the modified electrode in reducing O₂. A Na-montmorillonite modified electrode showed the greatest adsorption capacity for methyl viologen. The modified electrode made of Na-montmorillonite suspension of 0.87 g/10 mL and a 2.5 mM of methyl viologen solution showed the most effective electrocatalytic property, where the catalytic reduction potential was shifted by 242.6 mV toward the positive potential. The electrocatalytic ability was more significant in acidic (pH=3.7) and alkaline (pH=12.7) media than the neutral pH range (6.3∼8.3). The methyl viologen-Na-montmorillonite modified electrode had the good reproducibility and maintain the electrocatalytic property over 20 times reuse.