One-Pot Synthesis of Nitrogen-Doped Carbon Supported Mn-Co Nanoparticles for Hydrazine Oxidation

Abstract

The nitrogen-doped carbon (N-doped C), that has a graphene-like structure, has been chosen as a support for the deposition of Mn-Co nanoparticles (Mn-CoNPs) using a rapid microwave heating method with the aim to use them as the anode material for direct hydrazine fuel cells (DHFCs). For comparison, the pure CoNPs/N-doped C and MnNPs/N-doped C catalysts have been synthesized under similar conditions. The structure, morphology and composition of the synthesized catalysts have been characterized using Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM), Raman Spectroscopy, X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS) and Inductively Coupled Plasma Optical Emission Spectroscopy (ICP-OES). The electrocatalytic activity of the prepared Mn-CoNPs/N-doped C, CoNPs/N-doped C and MnNPs/N-doped C catalysts for hydrazine oxidation has been evaluated using cyclic voltammetry and chrono-techniques. Cyclic voltammograms on the prepared catalysts have been recorded in a 0.05 M N2H4 + 1 M NaOH solution at a potential scan rate of 10 mV s–1.It has been determined that the Mn-CoNPs/N-doped C, CoNPs/N-doped C and MnNPs/N-doped C catalysts show an enhanced electrocatalytic activity towards the oxidation of hydrazine in an alkaline medium. Moreover, the oxidation process of hydrazine on the Mn-CoNPs/N-doped C, CoNPs/N-doped C and MnNPs/N-doped C catalysts is controlled by the diffusion processes. The data on the oxidation of hydrazine on the N-doped C supported Mn-CoNPs, CoNPs and MnNPs under various conditions are compared and discussed.