Novel Core/Shell Ni@NiO/Pt as High Efficient Electrocatalyst for Alkaline Direct Ethanol Fuel Cells

Abstract

A one-dimensional core/shell hybrid electrocatalyst for alkaline direct ethanol fuel cells (ADEFC) has been fabricated using Ni@NiO nanowire arrays (NWA) as a novel support for porous Pt nanoparticles (Pt NP). The Ni@NiO NWA has been fabricated by direct electrodeposition inside a polycarbonate template and the subsequent conversion of the outer shell of Ni into an oxide by oxygen plasma annealing. The Pt NP have been deposited onto the Ni@NiO NWA surface by the borohydride technique. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) has shown that the PtNP contain a homogeneous distribution of fine pores. The electro-catalytic activity for the electro-oxidation of ethanol in alkaline media for Ni@NiO NWA/Pt has been found to be 126 mA/cm2. Chronoamperometry has been used to show that the Ni@NiO NWA/Pt electrocatalyst exhibits favorable stability and activity as well as tolerance to CO-like poisoning during ethanol electro-oxidation at temperatures of 21{degree sign}C and 50 {degree sign}C. The Ni@NiO NWA/Pt electrocatalyst is a potential candidate to replace the commercial Pt/C NP anode electrocatalysts currently used in ADEFC.