Enhanced electrocatalytic activity and stability of platinum, gold, and nickel oxide nanoparticles-based ternary catalyst for formic acid electro-oxidation

The global interest to realize and commercialize the direct formic acid fuel cells has motivated the development of efficient and stable anodes for the formic acid (FA) electro-oxidation (FAO). In this investigation, a ternary catalyst composed of Pt nanoparticles (PtNPs), Au nanoparticles (AuNPs) and nickel oxide nanoparticles (nano-NiOx), all were sequentially electrodeposited onto the surface of a glassy carbon (GC) electrode, was recommended for this reaction. The surface morphology investigation revealed the deposition of grain-shaped PtNPs (25 nm average particle size), and flower-shaped nanospheres (less than 60 nm average particle size) of AuNPs and nano-NiOx. Interestingly, the ternary modified NiOx-Au-Pt/GC electrode has shown an outstanding electrocatalytic activity towards the direct FAO, concurrently with a complete suppression for the indirect route. It further exhibited excellent stability that extended for 7 h of continuous electrolysis. While PtNPs furnished a suitable base for FA adsorption, AuNPs played a significant role to interrupt the contiguity of the Pt surface sites, which is necessary for CO poisoning. On the other hand, nano-NiOx acted as a catalytic mediator facilitating the charge transfer of FAO and the oxidative removal of CO at a lower potential.