N-Doped carbon-supported Au-modified NiFe alloy nanoparticle composite catalysts for BH4− electrooxidation

Abstract

A nitrogen-doped carbon-supported Au-modified NiFe alloy nanoparticle composite catalyst (Au/NiFe/N–C) has been prepared by a simple method and used as an electrocatalyst for the BH₄⁻ oxidation reaction (BOR). The physical and electrochemical properties of the as-prepared Au/NiFe/N–C catalyst have been tested by transmission electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, cyclic voltammetry, chronoamperometry, chronopotentiometry, and rotating disk electrode voltammetry. The results showed that the catalytic activity of Au/NiFe/N–C for BOR was much higher than that of a carbon-supported Au nanocatalyst (Au/C); in particular, the Au₍₅₀₎NiFe₍₅₀₎/N–C catalyst demonstrated much higher catalytic activity with 2-fold higher peak current density than Au/C for BOR.