Full text

Turn on search term navigation

© 2022 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland. This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/). Notwithstanding the ProQuest Terms and Conditions, you may use this content in accordance with the terms of the License.

Abstract

The demands for alternative energy have led researchers to find effective electrocatalysts in fuel cells and increase the efficiency of existing materials. This study presents new nanocatalysts based on two binary transition metal oxides (BTMOs) and their hybrid with reduced graphene oxide for methanol oxidation. Characterization of the introduced three-component composite, including cobalt manganese oxide (MnCo2O4), nickel cobalt oxide (NiCo2O4), and reduced graphene oxide (rGO) in the form of MnCo2O4/NiCo2O4/rGO (MNR), was investigated by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscope (SEM), and energy-dispersive X-ray (EDX) analyses. The alcohol oxidation capability of MnCo2O4/NiCo2O4 (MN) and MNR was evaluated in the methanol oxidation reaction (MOR) process. The crucial role of rGO in improving the electrocatalytic properties of catalysts stems from its large active surface area and high electrical conductivity. The alcohol oxidation tests of MN and MNR showed an adequate ability to oxidize methanol. The better performance of MNR was due to the synergistic effect of MnCo2O4/NiCo2O4 and rGO. MN and MNR nanocatalysts, with a maximum current density of 14.58 and 24.76 mA/cm2 and overvoltage of 0.6 and 0.58 V, as well as cyclic stability of 98.3% and 99.7% (at optimal methanol concentration/scan rate of 20 mV/S), respectively, can be promising and inexpensive options in the field of efficient nanocatalysts for use in methanol fuel cell anodes.

Details

Title
MnCo2O4/NiCo2O4/rGO as a Catalyst Based on Binary Transition Metal Oxide for the Methanol Oxidation Reaction
Author
Mohammad Bagher Askari 1 ; Azizi, Sadegh 2   VIAFID ORCID Logo  ; Mohammad Taghi Tourchi Moghadam 2 ; Seifi, Majid 2 ; Seyed Mohammad Rozati 2 ; Antonio Di Bartolomeo 3   VIAFID ORCID Logo 

 Department of Semiconductor, Institute of Science and High Technology and Environmental Sciences, Graduate University of Advanced Technology, Kerman 7631818356, Iran 
 Department of Physics, Faculty of Science, University of Guilan, Rasht 413351914, Iran 
 Department of Physics “E. R. Caianiello”, University of Salerno, 84084 Fisciano, SA, Italy 
First page
4072
Publication year
2022
Publication date
2022
Publisher
MDPI AG
e-ISSN
20794991
Source type
Scholarly Journal
Language of publication
English
ProQuest document ID
2739448501
Copyright
© 2022 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland. This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/). Notwithstanding the ProQuest Terms and Conditions, you may use this content in accordance with the terms of the License.