CoNi2O4 Coated on Activated Carbon Wheat Husk (ACWH) as a Novel Nano-Electrocatalyst for Methanol and Ethanol Electro-Oxidation

Abstract

In this paper, for the first time, a CoNi2O4 nanocatalyst coated on the surface of activated carbon wheat husk (ACWH) was synthesized in the form of CoNi2O4/ACWH through a hydrothermal process. The electrocatalytic activity of this catalyst was evaluated using methanol oxidation reaction (MOR) and ethanol oxidation reaction (EOR) processes for use in anodes of alcohol fuel cells. Adding ACWH, as a cheap carbon biomass with an excellent active surface area, improves the performance of the catalyst in the oxidation of alcohols. The current density of CoNi2O4/ACWH in the MOR process is 160 mA/cm2 at an optimal methanol concentration of 2 M; this oxidation current density in the EOR process and at a concentration of 1.5 M ethanol is 150 mA/cm2. The stability of CoNi2O4/ACWH in MOR and EOR processes, after 1000 consecutive CV cycles, is 98.6% and 94.6%, respectively.