MWCNT impregnated with [Fe3+-(5-Br-PADAP)] as an effective and stable nanocatalyst in acidic media for MOR and HER

Addressed herein, the complex of Fe3+ with 2-(5-Bromo-2-pyridylazo)-5-(diethylamino) phenol ([Fe3+-(5-BrPADAP)]) as a stable chelate was immobilized onto the multiwall carbon nanotube and the synthetic material was identified by some common techniques. Application of the material was evaluated for methanol oxidation reaction and electrochemical hydrogen evolution reaction by cyclic voltammetry, chronoamperometry and linear sweep voltammetry. The obtained data showed significant electrocatalytic effects for the as-prepared electrocatalyst in terms of peak current, stability and CO poisoning tolerance for methanol electro-oxidation. Moreover, performance of the nanocatalyst in electrochemical hydrogen evolution reaction represented a good overvoltage about 100 mV for reduction of hydronium ion with a Tafel slope equal to 67mv/dec which was close to Pt/C electrode through the Volmer-Heyrovsky process. Overall, due to stability originated from embedded chelate complex onto the multiwall carbon nanotube, significant results were obtained for both the methanol oxidation and hydrogen revolution reaction by means of abundant and inexpensive materials.