Electrocatalytic Glycerol Oxidation with Concurrent Hydrogen Evolution Utilizing an Efficient MoOx/Pt Catalyst

Glycerol electrolysis affords a green and energetically favorable route for the production of value-added chemicals at the anode and H-2 production in parallel at the cathode. Here, a facile method for trapping Pt nanoparticles at oxygen vacancies of molybdenum oxide (MoOx) nanosheets, yielding a high-performance MoOx/Pt composite electrocatalyst for both the glycerol oxidation reaction (GOR) and the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) in alkaline electrolytes, is reported. Combined electrochemical experiments and theoretical calculations reveal the important role of MoOx nanosheets for the adsorption of glycerol molecules in GOR and the dissociation of water molecules in HER, as well as the strong electronic interaction with Pt. The MoOx/Pt composite thus significantly enhances the specific mass activity of Pt and the kinetics for both reactions. With MoOx/Pt electrodes serving as both cathode and anode, two-electrode glycerol electrolysis is achieved at a cell voltage of 0.70 V to reach a current density of 10 mA cm(-2), which is 0.90 V less than that required for water electrolysis.

Automated summary

A high-performance MoOx/Pt composite electrocatalyst for glycerol electrolysis in alkaline electrolytes is reported, showing excellent performance in both glycerol oxidation reaction (GOR) and hydrogen evolution reaction (HER). The MoOx nanosheets play an important role in the adsorption of glycerol molecules in GOR, the dissociation of water molecules in HER, and the strong electronic interaction with Pt.