Abstract
Direct methanol fuel cell is claiming to be the most main power source in future as a clean energy source, for which methanol is used as fuel. In the present study, nickel nanoparticles were synthesized by green route in the presence of montmorillonite (Ni-MMT). Then the electrochemical activity of prepared nanocomposite was investigated in methanol oxidation reaction in acidic medium. In the process of nickel nanoparticle synthesis, the natural substrate montmorillonite was used as capping agent and Allium jesdianum water extract was used as the source of reducing agent for the first time. The Ni-MMT sample was characterized by UV–Vis, XRD, SEM and EDX techniques. Production of nickel nanoparticles in the proposed green method is confirmed by absorption peak of 405 nm in UV–Vis spectrum. The average particle size of Ni-MMT was determined as 20.80 nm. The oxidation of methanol in acidic medium was studied by cyclic voltammetry using Ni-MMT-modified carbon paste electrode (Ni-MMT/CPE). Methanol was oxidized on the modified electrode surface at 0.3 V. Also, the catalytic current of methanol oxidation was 3 mA in H2SO4 electrolyte which is significantly more than unmodified CPE. The concentration of 0.5 M for H2SO4 was obtained as the optimum electrolyte for the oxidation of methanol. Methanol can be catalyzed in the concentration range of 0.1–0.5 M by the prepared nanostructured catalyst.Graphic abstractNi nanoparticles in montmorillonite (Ni-MMT) which was prepared by Allium jesdianum extract have a good electrocatalytic effect on methanol oxidation.
Highlights
Fuel cells are electrochemical devices and green power sources with widespread applications in portable and stationary electronic devices
The sharp distinct diffraction peaks at 2θ angles of 37.32°, 44.82°, 47.92° and 75.97° for green-synthesized Ni nanoparticles related to 111, 200, and 220 crystal planes. This results confirm that nanocomposite includes face-centered cubic (FCC) nickel (JCPDS no. 04-0850) [26, 27]
Using water extract of A. jesdianum medicinal plant, nickel nanoparticles are successfully synthesized in MMT as a green and cost-effective route
Summary
Fuel cells are electrochemical devices and green power sources with widespread applications in portable and stationary electronic devices. Keywords Methanol oxidation · Metal nanoparticles · Green synthesis · Montmorillonite · Modified electrode Ni-MMT-synthesized nanocomposite is added as modifier to carbon black (Vulcan XC-72R) for preparing modified carbon paste electrode.
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