Ag/Co3O4 as an effective catalyst for glycerol electro-oxidation in alkaline medium

Herein, we report two different modes of combustion synthesis to prepare Ag/Co3O4 for glycerol electro-oxidation reaction. The synthesis technique allows us to deposit and disperse cobalt on the surface of silver and understand the effect of silver-cobalt interactions on the electrocatalytic performance. The bimetallic AgCo catalyst was synthesized via conventional solution combustion (AgCo-SCS); in addition, a novel second wave solution combustion synthesis (AgCo-SWC) was also used to synthesize a sample with a higher degree of surface alloying between the elements. XRD results of AgCo-SWC show peak shifts in 20 to indicate the formation of a solid solution alloy that could improve the structural and electronic characteristic of the material. In AgCo-SCS, smaller Ag particles are found to be more on the surface, while in AgCo-SWC, Ag particles were largely covered with cobalt particles. The electro-oxidation results indicate that AgCo-SWC has improved electrochemical properties in terms of higher oxidation current and lower onset potential, which makes it an ideal candidate for glycerol oxidation reaction. (C) 2020 Hydrogen Energy Publications LLC. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Automated summary

The study reports two different modes of combustion synthesis for Ag/Co3O4 preparation for glycerol electro-oxidation reaction. The XRD results of AgCo-SWC show the formation of a solid solution alloy, indicating improved structural and electronic characteristics. AgCo-SWC exhibits improved electrochemical properties with higher oxidation current and lower onset potential, making it an ideal candidate for glycerol oxidation reaction.