In this study, a facile, controllable, and efficient process (electrospinning followed by calcination at 1100 degree centigrade under argon atmosphere) is developed for the synthesis of Nickel/Nitrogen-doped carbon nanofibers (Ni/N-CNFs) catalyst as thin film on graphite disk as well as glassy carbon substrate without involving any additional stabilizer. The composition and morphology of the prepared catalysts were characterized by XRD, EDX, FE-SEM and TEM techniques. The introduced catalysts are a novel and effective electrocatalyst for methanol oxidation in the alkaline media, which their catalytic activity and stability evaluated by cyclic voltammetry (CV) and chronoamperometry, respectively. To confirm the role of graphite disk as substrate on the catalytic activity and stability for introduced catalyst was compared with unsupported one. The introduced catalyst revealed good electrocatalytic activity toward methanol oxidation. Moreover, the obtained results have also indicated that nitrogen doping enhance the electrocatalytic activity and stability of Ni/CNFs toward methanol oxidation in alkaline media.

Electrospun nickel/nitrogen-doped carbon nanofibers as non-precious and effective anode for direct methanol fuel cells

251st National Meeting (2016)

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