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Carbon-supported Ni(OH)2 nanospheres decorated with Au nanoparticles: a promising catalyst for BH4− electrooxidation

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Abstract

An electrocatalyst for BH4− electrooxidation is facilely achieved via a two-step method, which consists of carbon substrate, Ni(OH)2 nanospheres and Au nanoparticles. Results of scanning electron microcopy, transmission electron microscopy, and X-ray diffraction show that Au nanoparticles dispersedly grow on both surfaces of carbon substrate and carbon-supported Ni(OH)2 nanospheres. The electrocatalytic activity of the as-prepared catalysts loaded with different amounts of Au and Ni(OH)2 are explored through cyclic voltammetry, chronoamperometry, chronopotentiometry, and rotating disc electrode voltammetry. Among the prepared catalysts, Au(50)/Ni(OH)2(50)/C catalyst displays the best electrocatalytic activity for BH4− electrooxidation, and the lower content of noble metal and the higher catalytic activity for BH4− electrooxidation make Au(50)/Ni(OH)2(50)/C a promising anode catalyst in application of direct borohydride fuel cells.

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Funding

This work was financially supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (21875203, 21874114, 21475114), Scientific Research Fund of Hunan Provincial Education Department (17B254), Collaborative Innovation Center of New Chemical Technologies for Environmental Benignity and Efficient Resource Utilization.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Key Laboratory of Environmentally Friendly Chemistry and Applications of Ministry of Education, School of Chemistry, Xiangtan University, Xiangtan, 411105, China

    Lanhua Yi, Bin Yu, Junjie Fei, Yonglan Ding, Chunguang Yang & Xianyou Wang

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  1. Lanhua Yi
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  2. Bin Yu
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  3. Junjie Fei
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  4. Yonglan Ding
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  5. Chunguang Yang
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  6. Xianyou Wang
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Correspondence to Lanhua Yi, Junjie Fei or Xianyou Wang.

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Yi, L., Yu, B., Fei, J. et al. Carbon-supported Ni(OH)2 nanospheres decorated with Au nanoparticles: a promising catalyst for BH4− electrooxidation. Ionics 25, 5153–5161 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11581-019-03120-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11581-019-03120-3

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