Promotional effect of Ni-Co/ordered mesoporous carbon as non-noble hybrid electrocatalyst for methanol electro-oxidation

The development of a ternary hybrid catalytic system, inclusive of Ni species/Co species/ordered mesoporous carbon (catalyst/co-catalyst/support) and its promotional & synergistic impact towards methanol electro-oxidation has been reported. High surface area, soft template synthesized, ordered Mesoporous Carbon, was used as a scaffold. 15 wt% of Ni or/& Co was/were deposited onto the pre-synthesized carbon scaffold in varying ratios viz. Ni, 1Ni3Co (1:3), 1Ni1Co (1:1), 3Ni1Co (3:1) and Co. Via physicochemical characterization techniques, the phase purity, specific surface area, the extent of agglomeration, and its chemical functionality were quantified. Cyclic Voltammetry, Electrochemical Impedance, and Chronoamperometry techniques collectively exhibited the synergistic impact and the benefit of mixing the two metal systems (Ni & Co) together. Two identical sets of catalysts were synthesized; one from metal nitrate & the other from metal chloride precursors. Highest current density (151.51 mA cm(-2)) & lowest onset potential (0.27 V) values were recorded when Ni:Co was taken in 1:3 elemental wt% ratio & synthesized from the nitrate based inorganic metal precursors; this observation can be attributed to the higher content of amorphous borate shell layer formed in the nitrate as compared to the chloride precursor based catalysts. [GRAPHICS] .