Promoting effect of Bi in Ni–Bi oxide electrocatalysts for methanol oxidation reaction

Abstract

A series of nickel-based materials doping with bismuth element were synthesized by a sol–gel method and investigated as efficient electrocatalysts for methanol electrooxidation in alkaline environment. The physicochemical properties of the materials were well characterized by transmission electron microscope (TEM), scanning electron microscope (SEM), thermogravimetric analysis (TG), X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectra (FT-IR), cyclic voltammetry (CV) and chronoamperometry (CA). The electrochemical measurements illustrated that the introduction of bismuth element can enhance the catalytic activity of NiO catalyst for methanol oxidation reaction. The current density of Ni100Bi1 nano-oxides increased by 30% compared with NiO in 1 M NaOH with 1 M CH3OH solution. The prepared materials exhibited favorable stability for methanol oxidation. Thus, Ni100Bi1 nano-oxides appear to be a promising catalyst for methanol oxidation reaction (MOR).