Excellent electro-oxidation of methanol and ethanol in alkaline media: Electrodeposition of the NiMoP metallic nano-particles on/in the ERGO layers/CE

Abstract

Here, the Ni-based metallic nano-particles (Ni, NiMo and NiMoP) were electrodeposited on/in the surface of ERGO/CE substrate from a citrate-based electrolyte and their catalytic activities investigated towards methanol and ethanol electro-oxidation. The physicochemical characterizations of all prepared electrocatalysts were investigated by different electrochemical and non-electrochemical techniques. The electrocatalytic activities of the modified electrodes towards the electro-oxidation of methanol and ethanol were studied in 0.1 M NaOH solution by conventional electrochemical methods such as cyclic voltammetry and chronoamperometry. In the optimized electrodeposition conditions, the obtained electrochemical results indicate that the NiMoP/ERGO/CE displays dramatically improved electrocatalytic activity [Jpf (mA.cm−2) = 263.14 for methanol and Jpf (mA.cm−2) = 253.35 for ethanol], stability and poisoning tolerance towards the electro-oxidation of these fuels in alkaline solution. Finally, for comparison, the Ni (alone) and NiMo (binary) electrodeposited on/in the ERGO/CE (without P) and also studying the influence of the ERGO layers on the surface of CE, the NiMoP/CE (without ERGO) were prepared and applied as electrocatalysts.