High-Performance Methanol Oxidation via Ni12-Metal8/CNF Catalyst for Fuel Cell Applications

Abstract

In this work, non-precious electrocatalysts were synthesized using the electrospinning technique. Ni12M8/CNF (M = Cd, Co, and Cu) catalysts were successfully prepared in a fixed ratio to withstand the optimum transition metal co-catalyst in addition to the role of CNFs as support in ion-charge movement through the catalyst surface. The prepared catalysts were physically studied by XRD, SEM, and TEM. The electrochemical activity was verified using different fuel concentrations, different sweeping scan rates, and electrochemical impedance. Ni12Cu8/CNFs showed the highest electrochemical activity reaching 152 mA/cm2 through different methanol concentrations. The outstanding performance is attributed to the large active surface area provided by carbon nanofibrous that eases the charge carrier transfer through the untrapped surface of the catalyst. The electrochemical tests suggest that Ni12Cu8/CNFs have the lowest ohmic impedance resistance ensuring the highest efficiency of the designed catalyst. The obtained results serve as an efficient catalyst for direct methanol electrooxidation reactions and suggest a possible application of a low-cost, easily accessible, and large surface area established via the preparing method.