High-performance spinel NiMn2O4 supported carbon felt for effective electrochemical conversion of ethylene glycol and hydrogen evolution applications

Shymaa S Medany; Mahmoud A Hefnawy; Soha M Kamal

doi:10.1038/s41598-023-50950-3

High-performance spinel NiMn₂O₄ supported carbon felt for effective electrochemical conversion of ethylene glycol and hydrogen evolution applications

Sci Rep. 2024 Jan 4;14(1):471. doi: 10.1038/s41598-023-50950-3.

Authors

Shymaa S Medany¹, Mahmoud A Hefnawy², Soha M Kamal³

Affiliations

¹ Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Cairo University, Giza, 12613, Egypt. shymaasamir80@cu.edu.eg.
² Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Cairo University, Giza, 12613, Egypt. maadel@cu.edu.eg.
³ Applied Electrochemistry Laboratory, Chemistry Department, Faculty of Science, Beni-Suef University, Beni-Suef, 52511, Egypt.

Abstract

One of the most effective electrocatalysts for electrochemical oxidation reactions is NiMn₂O₄ spinel oxide. Here, a 3-D porous substrate with good conductivity called carbon felt (CF) is utilized. The composite of NiMn₂O₄-supported carbon felt was prepared using the facile hydrothermal method. The prepared electrode was characterized by various surface and bulk analyses like powder X-ray diffraction, X-ray photon spectroscopy (XPS), Scanning and transmitted electron microscopy, thermal analysis (DTA), energy dispersive X-ray (EDX), and Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET). The activity of NiMn₂O₄ toward the electrochemical conversion of ethylene glycol at a wide range of concentrations was investigated. The electrode showed a current density of 24 mA cm^-2 at a potential of 0.5 V (vs. Ag/AgCl). Furthermore, the ability of the electrode toward hydrogen evaluation in an alkaline medium was performed. Thus, the electrode achieved a current density equal 10 mA cm^-2 at an overpotential of 210 mV (vs. RHE), and the provided Tafel slope was 98 mV dec^-1.