Use of Co3O4/Ni Foam Nanocomposites as Electrode Material in Direct Methanol Fuel Cell

Abstract

In this work, Co3O4 nanoneedle arrays on nickel foam (Co3O4/Ni foam) were directly synthesized by facile one step thermal treatment. The structural and morphological analysis of Co3O4/Ni foam nanocomposites were characterized by X-ray diffraction spectroscopy (XRD) and field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM). The electrochemical oxidation of methanol on Co3O4/Ni foam in alkaline solution was investigated by cyclic voltammetry (CV) and chronoamperometry (CA) techniques. The Co3O4/Ni foam showed excellent electrocatalytic performance with low onset potential (270 mV), high current density (67 mA cm-2) and long electro-oxidation stability (86%). Thus, it has been determined that the synthesized nanocomposite can be an excellent candidate for high performance platinum-free electrocatalysts directly for methanol fuel cells.

Keywords

• Co3O4
• hydrothermal synthesis
• methanol electro-oxidation

Co3O4/Ni Köpük Nanokompozitlerinin Doğrudan Metanol Yakıt Hücresinde Elektrot Malzemesi Olarak Kullanımı

Abstract

Bu çalışmada, nikel köpük üzerindeki Co3O4 nano-iğne dizileri (Co3O4/Ni köpük), basit tek-kap hidrotermal yöntemle sentezlenmiş ve ardından tek aşamalı ısıl işlem uygulanmıştır. Co3O4/Ni köpük nanokompozitlerinin yapısal ve morfolojojik analizleri; X-ışını kırınım spektroskopisi (XRD) ve alan emisyonlu taramalı elektron mikroskobu (FESEM) ile karakterize edilmiştir. Alkali çözeltide Co3O4/Ni köpük üzerinde metanolün elektrokimyasal oksidasyonu, dönüşümlü voltametri (CV) ve kronoamperometri (CA) teknikleri ile incelenmiştir. Düşük başlangıç potansiyeli (270 mV), yüksek akım yoğunluğu (67 mA cm-2) ve uzun elektro-oksidasyon kararlılığı (%86) ile Co3O4/Ni köpük mükemmel elektrokatalitik performans göstermiştir. Böylece, sentezlenen nanokompozitin doğrudan metanol yakıt hücreleri için yüksek performanslı platinsiz elektrokatalizörlere mükemmel bir aday olabileceği saptanmıştır.

Keywords

• Co3O4
• hidrotermal sentez
• metanol elektro-oksidasyonu

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