Abstract
Fabrication of composites by developing simple techniques can be an efficient way to modify the desire properties of the materials. This paper presents a detailed study on synthesis of low cost and efficient nitrogen doped reduced graphene oxide nickle-silver (N-rGO-Ni/Ag) and nickel-cobalt (N-rGO-Ni/Co) nanocomposites as electrocatalysts in fuel cell using one-pot blended reflux condensation route. An admirable correlation in the structures and properties of the synthesized nanocomposites was observed. The Oxygen Reduction Reaction (ORR) values for N-rGO-Ni/Ag and N-rGO-Ni/Co calculated from the onset potential, using Linear Sweep Voltammetry (LSV), were found to be 1.096 and 1.146. While the half wave potential were determined to be 1.046 and 1.106, respectively, N-rGO-Ni/Ag and N-rGO-Ni/Co. The Tafel and bi-functional (ORR/OER) values were calculated as 76 and 35 mV/decade and 1.23 and 1.12 V, respectively, for N-rGO-Ni/Ag and N-rGO-Ni/Co. The lower onset and half wave potential, low charge transfer resistance (Rct = 1.20 Ω/cm2) and internal solution resistance (Rs = 8.84 × 10−1 Ω/cm2), lower Tafel values (35 mV), satisfactory LSV measurements and mass activity (24.5 at 1.056 V for ORR and 54.9 at 1.056 for OER) demonstrate the remarkable electrocatalytic activity of N-rGO-Ni/Co for both ORR and OER. The chronamperometric stability for synthesized nanocomposites was found satisfactory up to 10 h.
Highlights
The alarming rate of ever-increasing energy demand stimulated academics’ and researchers’ attention towards state-of-the-art energy systems
Fuel cells basically rely on oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) and oxygen evolution reaction (OER) [2], where catalysts are at the heart for sluggish kinetics of ORR and OER processes
To overcome the slothful kinetics of ORR and OER, different metal catalysts were employed as electrode materials
Summary
The alarming rate of ever-increasing energy demand stimulated academics’ and researchers’ attention towards state-of-the-art energy systems. Fuel cells are the nextgeneration renewable energy devices. They offer the prospect of a high efficiency power source for vehicles, stationary power generation, and portable power devices etc. The researchers’ interest was drawn toward inexpensive and readily accessible transition metals (TMs) which could be assigned as a good alternative for high-cost Pt, Ir, and Ru metal-based electrocatalysts. These metals were often put to use in catalysis in fuel cells in the form of transitional metal complexes such as chalcogenides and metal oxides [3]
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