Abstract
Ammonia electro-oxidation (AEO) is a zero carbon-emitting sustainable means for the generation of hydrogen fuel, but its commercialization is deterred due to sluggish reaction kinetics and the poisoning of expensive metal electrocatalysts. With this perspective, CuO impregnated γ-Al2O3 (CuO/γ-Al2O3) hybrid materials were synthesized as effective and affordable electrocatalysts and investigated for AEO in alkaline media. Structural investigations were performed via different characterization techniques, i.e., X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transformed infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). The morphology of γ-Al2O3 support as interconnected porous structures rendered the CuO/γ-Al2O3 nanocatalysts with robust activity. The additional CuO impregnation resulted in the enhanced electrochemical active surface area (ECSAs) and diffusion coefficient and spiked the electrocatalytic performance for NH3 electrolysis. Owing to good values of diffusion coefficient for AEO, low bandgap, and availability of ample ECSA at higher CuO to γ-Al2O3 ratio, these proposed electrocatalysts were proved to be effective in AEO. Due to good reproducibility, electrochemical stability, and higher activity for ammonia electro-oxidation, CuO/γ-Al2O3 nanomaterials are proposed as efficient promoters, electrode materials, or catalysts in ammonia electrocatalysis.
Highlights
Ammonia (NH3) is a corrosive, pungent and carcinogenic inorganic gaseous pollutant and is being produced from both biogenic and anthropogenic sources, i.e., livestock waste, animal agriculture, refrigeration, nitrogen fertilizer and petroleum refining industries [1,2]
The network-like structures coincided with the electrochemical active surface areas (ECSAs), which varied with the Cupric oxide (CuO) contents
Electrochemical characterization involved cyclic voltammetry and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) that conferred to the absolute catalytic behavior of as-proposed electrocatalysts
Summary
Ammonia (NH3) is a corrosive, pungent and carcinogenic inorganic gaseous pollutant and is being produced from both biogenic and anthropogenic sources, i.e., livestock waste, animal agriculture, refrigeration, nitrogen fertilizer and petroleum refining industries [1,2]. The α-Al2O3, known as nano-alumina, is a white puffy powder It has lower specific surface area, limited high temperature resistance and it is inert, it does not belong to activated alumina, and displays almost no catalytic activity. Γ-Al2O3 possesses high purity and provides excellent dispersion and high specific surface area, offering commendable resistance to high temperature and high activity It is porous; it is said to be activated alumina and used as catalyst. Cost-effective and synthesized electrocatalysts (CuO/γ-Al2O3) were investigated for efficient ammonia electro-oxidation reaction in alkaline media. The electrochemical stability and higher performance towards the ammonia electro-oxidation rendered the CuO/γ-Al2O3 nanomaterials as efficient electrocatalysts. The gradual variation in color of synthesized catalysts from bluish-white to bluish green was observed with incremental CuO content
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