Promoting effect of Co in Ni(m)Co(n) (m + n = 4) bimetallic electrocatalysts for methanol oxidation reaction

Ni-based bimetallic alloys have superior physiochemical characteristics compared to monometallic Ni. In this study, a new type of low cost bimetallic NimCon (n + m = 4) electrocatalysts with high active surface were synthesized on Ti substrate through a hydrogen evolution assisted electrodeposition method. The as-prepared NimCon were characterized by XRD, EDS, and SEM. It was revealed that the composition, surface morphology, as well as the crystal phase structure of the bimetallic NimCon electrocatalysts were significantly changed with the increased content of cobalt. Electrochemical measurements showed that the bimetallic NimCon catalysts, compared with the monometallic Ni, have superior catalytic activity and stability toward the methanol electrooxidation reaction. Additionally, Ni2Co2 sample presented the highest oxidation current density and the best durability. The mechanism study based on electrochemical experiments and density functional theory based calculations showed that the doping of Co in NimCon can signally improve the surface coverage of the redox species, weaken the CO adsorption, as well as adjust the CH3OH adsorption. Such understanding is of important directive significance to design efficient nonprecious catalysts.