Enhanced Electrooxidation of Methanol via Ion Implantation of Co Nanoparticles onto 3D Ni Foam Templates

Abstract

In this study, cobalt-nanoparticles (CoNPs) are directly synthesized on Ni foam by ion implantation to catalyze methanol electro-oxidation in alkaline medium, which is simple, cheap, environmentally friendly and easy to mass production. Several techniques, including scanning electron microscopy (SEM), powder X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS) have been employed to characterize the physicochemical properties of the as-prepared electrode. The electro-catalytic performances are investigated by cyclic voltammetry (CV), electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) and chronoamperometry (CA). The CoNPs/NF electrode shows prominent electro-catalytic activity toward the electro-oxidation of methanol because of the well preserved 3D mesoporous structure of Ni foam, which can provide adequate open spaces and shorter ion diffusion paths to increase the electrode/electrolyte contact interface and active sites for reaction.