Hierarchical N-doped carbon nanofiber-loaded NiCo alloy nanocrystals with enhanced methanol electrooxidation for alkaline direct methanol fuel cells

• Published in: Journal of colloid and interface science 2023-09, Vol.646, p.43-53
• Main Authors: Chen, Fei, Guo, Shiquan, Yu, Shuyan, Zhang, Chong, Guo, Man, Li, Congju
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Alkaline direct methanol fuel cell; CO-resistant MOR electrocatalyst; Metal-organic frameworks; N-doped carbon nanofiber; Non-precious metals
• ISSN: 0021-9797; 1095-7103
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jcis.2023.05.030

Highly dispersed N-doped carbon nanofiber-loaded NiCo non-precious metal alloy structure based on metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) was synthesized by simple blend spinning as well as pyrolysis treatment. NiCo/N-CNFs can serve as low-cost, efficient and CO-resistant electrocatalyst for methanol oxidation reaction, and the assembled alkaline direct methanol fuel cells exhibit excellent electrochemical performance. [Display omitted] •Highly dispersed N-doped carbon nanofiber-loaded NiCo non-precious metal alloy structure based on metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) was synthesized by simple blend spinning and pyrolysis methods.•Porous N-doped carbon nanofiber protects NiCo alloy nanocrystals and facilitates mass and electron transfer.•Optimized NiCo/N-CNFs shows a high activity due to the synergistic effect of Ni and Co for MOR.•High power density of NiCo/N-CNFs based alkaline direct methanol fuel cells are demonstrated. The high catalytic activity of non-precious metals in alkaline media opens a new direction for the development of alkaline direct methanol fuel cell (ADMFC) electrocatalysts. Herein, a highly dispersed N-doped carbon nanofibers (CNFs) -loaded NiCo non-precious metal alloy electrocatalyst based on metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) was prepared, which conferred excellent methanol oxidation activity and resistance to carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning through a surface electronic structure modulation strategy. The porous electrospun polyacrylonitrile (PAN) nanofibers and the P-electron conjugated structure of polyaniline chains provide fast charge transfer channels, enabling electrocatalysts with abundant active sites and efficient electron transfer. The optimized NiCo/N-CNFs@800 was tested as an anode catalyst for ADMFC single cell and exhibited a power density of 29.15 mW cm−2. Due to the fast charge transfer and mass transfer brought by its one-dimensional porous structure and the synergistic effect between NiCo alloy, NiCo/N-CNFs@800 is expected to be an economical, efficient and CO-resistant methanol oxidation reaction (MOR) electrocatalyst.