MWCNT-loaded MoS2 nanoflower-modified electrodes as efficient catalysts for direct glycerol fuel cells

Abstract

In order to respond to the needs of global energy structure transformation, people are committed to developing a new generation of clean energy technologies. As a revolutionary electrochemical energy conversion device, fuel cells not only provide a feasible solution to the problems of energy shortage and environmental pollution, but also support the implementation of China's ‘dual carbon’ strategy. Aiming at the resource utilization of glycerol, a by-product of biodiesel, a direct glycerol fuel cell system based on MoS₂/MWCNT catalysts was developed. This study innovatively combines MoS₂ nanoflowers with MWCNTs to construct a 3D conductive network, significantly enhancing electron transport and catalytic activity. Nanoflower-like MoS₂ materials grown on MWCNTs were prepared using a simple one-step hydrothermal method, and the prepared MoS₂/MWCNT materials were subsequently drop-coated on nickel foam. The electrocatalytic activity of MoS₂/MWCNTs towards glycerol oxidation was investigated in 1 M KOH at room temperature, examining the effect of glycerol concentration. Results show that the material exhibits good electrocatalytic performance, with 0.1 M glycerol identified as the optimal concentration. Finally, an H-type direct glycerol fuel cell was constructed using MoS₂/MWCNTs as the anode and Pt/C as the cathode. Linear sweep voltammetry was used to determine the open-circuit voltage and calculate the power density. The cell achieved a high power density of 0.67 mW cm⁻² at 0.16 V. The results indicate that the MoS₂/MWCNT composites exhibit significant potential for value-added utilization of biodiesel by-products and applications in clean energy conversion.