Cobalt nanoparticles introduced to activated carbon, CoNP/AC, as an effective electrocatalyst for oxidation and determination of methanol and ethanol

Addressed herein, a glassy carbon electrode was modified by cobalt nanoparticles stuck to the activated carbon (CoNP/AC/GCE). The electrocatalytic oxidation of methanol and ethanol on the surface of the modified electrode in acidic setting was investigated using cyclic voltammetry (CV), linear sweep voltammetry (LSV) and chronoamperometry as the first report. The effect of some parameters such as the potential scan rate, type of electrolyte solution and concentration effect of methanol and ethanol on the modified electrode was investigated. The kinetic parameters such as I0 (exchange current) and k0 (intrinsic heterogeneous rate constant) for methanol and ethanol were obtained through Tafel plots. By comparing the values obtained for I0 and K0, it would be clear that the effect of electrode modification on the electro-oxidation kinetics of ethanol and methanol is very significant. Finally, the response trends for electrooxidation of the alcohols by the CoNP/ AC/GCE confirmed the quantitative application of the modified electrode. (c) 2021 Hydrogen Energy Publications LLC. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Automated summary

A glassy carbon electrode modified by cobalt nanoparticles was used for the electrocatalytic oxidation of methanol and ethanol. The effect of various parameters on the modified electrode was investigated, and the kinetic parameters obtained from Tafel plots showed significant impact of electrode modification on the electro-oxidation kinetics of both alcohols. The response trends for electrooxidation of the alcohols confirmed the quantitative application of the modified electrode.