Abstract
Efficient and low-cost materials are highly demanded to improve the sluggish kinetics and stability of direct urea fuel cells for large-scale commercialization. In this study, modification of conventional nickel phoaphide (NiP) by cobalt doping via the facile solvothermal method and simultaneously dispersing prepared cobalt nickel phosphide (CoNiP) on poly (aniline-co-pyrrole)/reduced graphene oxide (PPy@PANI/rGO) as efficient and low-cost support material via simple ultrasonic/heat mediated dispersion process. The synthesized catalysts were characterized by scanning electron microscopy and an x-ray diffractometer. Furthermore, Cyclic Voltammetry tests were conducted to evaluate the performance of synthesized catalysis towards alkaline urea oxidation. The physical characterization depicts the successful formation of NiP and Co-doped NiP microsphere with a particle size of 4.306 μm and 2.04 μm, respectively. In addition, homogeneous distribution of the CoNiP microsphere in the structure of PPy@PANI/rGO support material was achieved. Based on the CV test, the superior electrocatalytic performance of CoNiP@PPy@PANI/rGO electrode material with a potential of 0.414V versus SCE to drive a high current density of 26.92 mAcm−2, lower onset potential of 0.204 V versus SCE, and higher electrochemically active surface area of 2.08 × 10–1 cm2mg−1 were achieved. Furthermore, the electrochemical activities, kinetics, and stability of CoNiP@PPy@PANI/rGO remarkably outperformed the commercial NiP and CoNiP towards alkaline urea electro-oxidation. Therefore, a novel material, CoNiP@PPy@PANI/rGO, is an excellent candidate for anode electrode material in direct urea fuel cells.
Highlights
Technological advancement coupled with fossil fuel depletion, energy crises, and the living standards of society calls for clean, sustainable, and simple energy sources like the supercapacitor, batteries, fuel cells, etc
Modification of conventional nickel phoaphide (NiP) by cobalt doping via the facile solvothermal method and simultaneously dispersing prepared cobalt nickel phosphide (CoNiP) on poly/reduced graphene oxide (PPy@PANI/rGO) as efficient and low-cost support material via simple ultrasonic/heat mediated dispersion process
Microstructure morphologies and equilibrium phases In this study, the efficiency of the as-synthesized CoNiP@PPy@PANI-rGO electrode material and NiP and Codoped NiP were compared to determine the effect of the incorporated support material towards urea oxidation in alkaline media
Summary
Technological advancement coupled with fossil fuel depletion, energy crises, and the living standards of society calls for clean, sustainable, and simple energy sources like the supercapacitor, batteries, fuel cells, etc. The sluggish kinetics of the anodic reaction and the design and development of highly efficient and low-cost electrode material for the largescale commercialization of direct urea fuel cells is a challenging task [2]. Transition metal, Ni-based electrocatalysts like C@NiO [6], NiO@Graphene NC [7], tungsten-doped nickel catalyst (Ni-WOx) [8], graphene supported Ni-NiO Nanoparticles [9], and nickel phosphide [10] were developed by different research groups for enhanced electrochemical oxidation of urea. Among Ni-based transition metal electrocatalysts, nickel phosphide electrode materials have attracted significant research interest due to their anticorrosion properties, superconductivity, magnetic properties, magnetoresistance behavior, and a low bandgap of 1eV, etc. The high onset potential, current leakage in long-term cycling, and fast loss of electrochemically active surface area remain challenging
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