preparation and electrochemical analysis: graphite (Timrex KS44; Imreys,
Bodio, Switzerland), carbon black (Vulcan carbon XC72R; Cabot Corp.,
Boston, Massachusetts), hydrazine hydrate (reagent grade; Sigma-Aldrich,
Darmstadt, Germany), cobalt(II) nitrate hexahydrate (99.999% trace
metals basis; Sigma-Aldrich, Darmstadt, Germany), zinc(II) nitrate
hexahydrate (>99%; Honeywell Fluka, Charlotte, North Carolina),
cerium(III)
nitrate hexahydrate (99.5%; Alfa Aesar, Haverhill, Massachusetts),
manganese(II) nitrate tetrahydrate (98%; Alfa Aesar, Haverhill, Massachusetts),
ammonium hydroxide solution (30–33%; Honeywell, Charlotte,
North Carolina), 2-propanol (≥99.9%, UV/IR-grade; Carl Roth,
Karlsruhe, Germany), potassium hydroxide (1.0 M Fixanal 1 L Ampoule;
Merck, Darmstadt, Germany), ethanol (99.9% p.a.; Carl Roth, Karlsruhe,
Germany), Nafion solution (5 wt % in water; Quintech, Göppingen,
Germany), alumina suspension (0.05 μm; MasterPrep Bühler,
Lake Bluff, Illinois), and Pt/C (30 wt % on Vulcan; De Nora North
America, New Jersey). Ultrapure water (∼18 MΩ cm) was
used in all experiments.