Facile and cost-effective growth of a highly efficient MgCo2O4 electrocatalyst for methanol oxidation

Abstract

A MgCo₂O₄ based electrode is employed as a novel electrocatalyst material for the electrochemical oxidation of methanol. The binder-free and carbon-free spinel MgCo₂O₄ nanorod-like structures were grown directly on nickel foam (NF) using a facile and cost-effective co-precipitation method followed by calcination. Cyclic voltammetry (CV), chronoamperometry (CA) and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) tests were used to study the electrocatalytic performance of the MgCo₂O₄/NF electrode. The MgCo₂O₄/NF electrode exhibits higher electrocatalytic activity, a lower onset potential and superior stability when tested as an electrocatalyst for methanol electrooxidation. The high surface area and large pore volume of MgCo₂O₄ with a mesoporous structure offer higher numbers of active sites for methanol electrooxidation. The higher catalytic activity and stability, along with the facile and scalable synthesis route are promising features for the use of cheap non-Pt based catalyst materials for methanol electrooxidation.