Controllable Synthesis of Cobalt Vanadate Nanostructure Materials for Direct Methanol Fuel Cell Applications

Abstract

Developing Nano catalyst for fuel cell with both high energy and power densities plays a vital role for satisfying the urgent demand of energy generation worldwide. To achieve a high power density of methanol oxidation reaction in fuel cell, it is essential to develop anode catalyst with high capacity and excellent stability. Metal oxides (Cobalt oxide) is a prospective anode material on account of its high energy density. In this paper different types of high-quality cobalt vanadate nanostructures such as Co3V2O8 and Co2V2O7 crystals have been synthesized as per the experimental procedure of hydrothermal treatment followed by heating at 450oC. Cobalt metavanadate nanostructures were synthesized via ammonium metavanadate and cobalt nitrate as a vanadium and cobalt source respectively. Structure and morphology of the synthesized samples were studied by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy. The SEM image illustrated the formation of nanoparticles is very uniform in size and well separated The XRD patterns revealed that the synthesized sample are of high crystallinity purity. The molar ratio of Co:V effects on the type of products, morphology and size of cobalt vanadate nanoparticles was studied. The electrochemical characterization i.e cyclic voltammetry will be performed for the synthesized material of Co3V2O8 and Co2V2O7 and the current density will be examined.