Abstract
In this study, Ni/Pd-decorated carbon nanofibers (NFs) were fabricated as an electrocatalyst for methanol oxidation. These NFs were synthesized based on carbonization of poly(vinyl alcohol), which has high carbon content compared to many polymers used to prepare carbon NFs. Typically, calcination of an electrospun mat composed of nickel acetate, palladium acetate, and poly(vinyl alcohol) can produce Ni/Pd-doped carbon NFs. The introduced NFs were characterized by scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy (TEM), high-resolution transmission electron microscopy, line TEM energy dispersive x-ray spectrometry, field emission scanning electron microscopy, and x-ray powder diffraction. These physicochemical characterizations are acceptable tools to investigate the crystallinity and chemistry of the fabricated Ni/Pd-carbon NFs. Accordingly, the prepared NFs were tested to enhance the economic and catalytic behavior of methanol electrooxidation. Experimentally, the obtained onset potential was small compared to many reported materials; 0.32 V (versus Ag/AgCl as a reference electrode). At the same time, the current density changed from 5.08 mA/cm2 in free methanol at 0.6 V to 12.68 mA/cm2 in 0.1 mol/L methanol, which can be attributed to the MeOH oxidation. Compared to nanoparticles, the NFs have a distinct effect on the electrocatalytic performance of material due to the effect of the one-dimensional structure, which facilitates the electron transfer. Overall, the presented work opens a new way for non-precious one-dimensional nanostructured catalysts for direct methanol fuel cell technology.
Article PDF
Similar content being viewed by others
Explore related subjects
Discover the latest articles, news and stories from top researchers in related subjects.Avoid common mistakes on your manuscript.
References
J. Chang, L. Feng, C. Liu, W. Xing, and X. Hu, Energy Environ. Sci. 7, 1628 (2014).
D. Aili, A. Vassiliev, J.O. Jensen, T.J. Schmidt, and Q. Li, J. Power Sources 279, 517 (2015).
B. Choi, W.-H. Nam, D.Y. Chung, I.-S. Park, S.J. Yoo, J.C. Song, and Y.-E. Sung, Electrochim. Acta 164, 235 (2015).
Z.L. Zhao, L.Y. Zhang, S.J. Bao, and C.M. Li, Appl. Catal. B 174, 361 (2015).
N.S. Veizaga, V.I. Rodriguez, T.A. Rocha, M. Bruno, O.A. Scelza, S.R. de Miguel, and E.R. Gonzalez, J. Electrochem. Soc. 162, F243 (2015).
H.D. Jang, S.K. Kim, H. Chang, J.-H. Choi, B.-G. Cho, E.H. Jo, J.-W. Choi, and J. Huang, Carbon 93, 869 (2015).
X. Zhao, M. Yin, L. Ma, L. Liang, C. Liu, J. Liao, T. Lu, and W. Xing, Energy Environ. Sci. 4, 2736 (2011).
Y.H. Chu and Y.G. Shul, Int. J. Hydrog. Energy 35, 11261 (2010).
A.A. Ensafi, M. Jafari-Asl, B. Rezaei, M.M. Abarghoui, and H. Farrokhpour, J. Power Sources 282, 452 (2015).
L. Zhang, Z. Wang, J. Zhang, X. Sui, L. Zhao, and J. Han, Fuel Cells 15, 619 (2015).
I.A. Raj and K. Vasu, J. Appl. Electrochem. 20, 32 (1990).
E. Akgül, A. Gülce, and H. Gülce, J. Electroanal. Chem. 668, 73 (2012).
I.M. Mohamed, V.-D. Dao, N.A. Barakat, A.S. Yasin, A. Yousef, and H.-S. Choi, J. Colloid Interface Sci. 476, 9 (2016).
I.M. Mohamed, V.-D. Dao, A.S. Yasin, H.M. Mousa, H.O. Mohamed, H.-S. Choi, M.K. Hassan, and N.A. Barakat, Chem. Eng. J. 304, 48 (2016).
Z.-M. Huang, Y.-Z. Zhang, M. Kotaki, and S. Ramakrishna, Compos. Sci. Technol. 63, 2223 (2003).
I.M. Mohamed, M. Motlak, M.S. Akhtar, A.S. Yasin, M.H. El-Newehy, S.S. Al-Deyab, and N.A. Barakat, Ceram. Int. 42, 146 (2016).
I.M. Mohamed, V.-D. Dao, A.S. Yasin, H.-S. Choi, and N.A. Barakat, Int. J. Hydrog. Energy 41, 10578 (2016).
H. He, L. Shi, Y. Fang, X. Li, Q. Song, and L. Zhi, Small 10, 4671 (2014).
M. Li, L. Liu, Y. Xiong, X. Liu, A. Nsabimana, X. Bo, and L. Guo, Sensor. Actuators B chem. 207, 614 (2015).
Q. Dong, G. Wang, B. Qian, C. Hu, Y. Wang, and J. Qiu, Electrochim. Acta 137, 388 (2014).
G. Zheng, Y. Yang, J.J. Cha, S.S. Hong, and Y. Cui, Nano Lett. 11, 4462 (2011).
A. Zainoodin, S. Kamarudin, M. Masdar, W. Daud, A. Mohamad, and J. Sahari, Appl. Energy 113, 946 (2014).
I.M. Mohamed, M. Motlak, H. Fouad, and N.A. Barakat, NANO 11, 1650049 (2016).
N.A. Barakat, M.A. Kanjwal, F.A. Sheikh, and H.Y. Kim, Polymer 50, 4389 (2009).
R. Amin, R.A. Hameed, K. El-Khatib, M.E. Youssef, and A. Elzatahry, Electrochim. Acta 59, 499 (2012).
C.-H. Cui, H.-H. Li, and S.-H. Yu, Chem. Sci. 2, 1611 (2011).
B.M. Thamer, M.H. El-Newehy, N.A. Barakat, M.A. Abdelkareem, S.S. Al-Deyab, and H.Y. Kim, Electrochim. Acta 142, 228 (2014).
S. Ha, R. Larsen, and R. Masel, J. Power Sources 144, 28 (2005).
A.S. Yasin, H.O. Mohamed, I.M. Mohamed, H.M. Mousa, and N.A. Barakat, Sep. Purif. Technol. 171, 34 (2016).
N.A. Barakat, M.A. Abdelkareem, A. Yousef, S.S. Al-Deyab, M. El-Newehy, and H.Y. Kim, Int. J. Hydrog. Energy 38, 3387 (2013).
Y. Zhao, X. Yang, J. Tian, F. Wang, and L. Zhan, Int. J. Hydrog. Energ 35, 3249 (2010).
N.A. Barakat, B. Kim, and H.Y. Kim, J. Phys. Chem. C 113, 531 (2008).
A. Yousef, M.S. Akhtar, N.A. Barakat, M. Motlak, O.-B. Yang, and H.Y. Kim, Electrochim. Acta 102, 142 (2013).
N.A. Barakat, M.S. Akhtar, A. Yousef, M. El-Newehy, and H.Y. Kim, Chem. Eng. J. 211, 9 (2012).
I. Danaee, M. Jafarian, A. Mirzapoor, F. Gobal, and M. Mahjani, Electrochim. Acta 55, 2093 (2010).
M. Simões, S. Baranton, and C. Coutanceau, Appl. Catal. B 93, 354 (2010).
C. Xu, H. Wang, P.K. Shen, and S.P. Jiang, Adv. Mater. 19, 4256 (2007).
A. Rahim and R. Abdel, Hameed, and M. Khalil. J. Power Sources 134, 160 (2004).
M. Vuković, J. Appl. Electrochem. 24, 878 (1994).
O. Enea, Electrochim. Acta 35, 375 (1990).
J. Liu, T. Zhao, R. Chen, and C. Wong, Electrochem. Commun. 7, 288 (2005).
N.A. Barakat, M. El-Newehy, S.S. Al-Deyab, and H.Y. Kim, Nanoscale Res. Lett. 9, 1 (2014).
Z.K. Ghouri, N.A. Barakat, M. Obaid, J.H. Lee, and H.Y. Kim, Ceram. Int. 41, 2271 (2015).
Z.K. Ghouri, N.A. Barakat, H.Y. Kim, M. Park, K.A. Khalil, M.H. El-Newehy, and S.S. Al-Deyab, Arab. J. Chem. 9, 219 (2016).
Z.K. Ghouri, N.A. Barakat, M. Park, B.-S. Kim, and H.Y. Kim, Ceram. Int. 41, 6575 (2015).
B.M. Thamer, M.H. El-Newehy, S.S. Al-Deyab, M.A. Abdelkareem, H.Y. Kim, and N.A. Barakat, Appl. Catal. A 498, 230 (2015).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Mohamed, I.M.A., Khalil, K.A., Mousa, H.M. et al. Ni/Pd-Decorated Carbon NFs as an Efficient Electrocatalyst for Methanol Oxidation in Alkaline Medium. J. Electron. Mater. 46, 265–273 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11664-016-4900-z
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11664-016-4900-z