Enhanced activity of NiCuO/T nanocatalysts was measured towards ethanol electro-oxidation process.

A facile and reduced cost fabrication protocol was followed to have a series of nickel oxide nanospecies onto graphite support with introducing varied copper oxide wt.% values (NiCuO/T). The co-precipitation of metallic hydroxide particles onto carbonaceous surfaces and their subsequent burning at 400°C were sufficient to prepare mixed transition metal oxides. Suitable analysis tools were exploited to fully characterize the obtained nanopowders using scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and energy dispersive X-ray analysis. Outstanding performances of the formed nanocatalysts for catalyzing ethanol electro-oxidation reaction were measured especially in presence of 15 wt.% copper oxide content. The onset potential (E_onset) value of alcohol oxidation process was negatively shifted at dispersed NiO nanoparticles onto graphite after doping with copper oxide nanospecies. This promoted activity of prepared nanomaterials could be explained by their increased active sites when binary metallic oxides were incorporated. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy studies demonstrated much lowered resistances in alkaline solution containing ethanol molecules to ascertain the enhanced behavior of NiCuO/T nanocatalysts. Moreover, their good stability attitude encouraged the application of doped nanomaterials with copper oxide for fuel cells application.