Breakthrough in Nanotechnology: Graphene-Nickel Hybrids Enhance Ethanol Electrooxidation

Researchers from the Shanghai University of Electric Power have made a significant breakthrough in nanotechnology, developing graphene-nickel hybrids that support palladium nanoparticles for enhanced ethanol electrooxidation. According to the study, the novel catalysts exhibit excellent electroactivity, with a mass catalytic activity of 3499.5 mA mg(-1) on ethanol oxidation in alkaline media, surpassing the performance of commercial catalysts by 5.24 times. The research highlights the importance of rapidly removing carbon monoxide intermediates to improve the durability of electrocatalysts.

Key Takeaways:

• The graphene-nickel nitride hybrids (AG-Ni3N) were designed to support palladium nanoparticles (Pd/AG-Ni3N) for ethanol electrooxidation, aiming to improve the durability of electrocatalysts.
• The density functional theory (DFT) calculations demonstrated that the introduction of AG-Ni3N depresses the CO absorption and promotes the adsorption of OH species for CO oxidation removal.
• The fabricated Pd/AG-Ni3N catalyst exhibited excellent electroactivity with a mass catalytic activity of 3499.5 mA mg(-1) on ethanol oxidation in alkaline media, which is around 5.24 times higher than Pd/C (commercial catalyst).
• The Pd/AG-Ni3N hybrids displayed excellent stability and durability after chronoamperometric measurements with a total operation time of 150,000 s.
• The research was funded by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC), Shanghai Rising-Star Program, and Science & Technology Commission of Shanghai Municipality (STCSM).
• The study involved researchers from the Shanghai University of Electric Power, Xiamen University, and other institutions.
• The novel catalysts have potential applications in energy chemistry and selectivity of oxidation reactions.

Statistics:

• The mass catalytic activity of the Pd/AG-Ni3N catalyst is 3499.5 mA mg(-1) on ethanol oxidation in alkaline media.
• The Pd/AG-Ni3N hybrids displayed a total operation time of 150,000 s in chronoamperometric measurements.
• The fabricated Pd/AG-Ni3N catalyst is around 5.24 times more active than Pd/C (commercial catalyst).

Sources:

• Journal of Energy Chemistry, 2021;55:48-54.
• National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC).
• Shanghai Rising-Star Program.
• Science & Technology Commission of Shanghai Municipality (STCSM).
• Shanghai University of Electric Power.
• Xiamen University.