Loading NiCo alloy nanoparticles onto nanocarbon for electrocatalytic conversion of arsenite into arsenate

Since trivalent arsenite (As III) is considerably more toxic and more difficult to remove from water than pentavalent arsenate (As V), conversion of As III into As V is regarded as an efficient strategy for mitigating arsenic pollution issues. Herein we report a precious-metal-free electrocatalyst with a three-dimensional (3D) structure produced by loading NiCo alloy nanoparticles onto nanocarbon (NiCoNPs/C). A range of techniques were used to characterize the morphology and structure of the NiCoNPs/C electrocatalyst, including scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). Preliminary electrochemical tests demonstrate that the NiCoNPs/C shows a high activity toward electrochemical conversion of arsenite (As III) to arsenate (As V) with quite a high catalytic current at a rather low overpotential. [Display omitted] •Synthesis of electrocatalyst by loading NiCo alloy nanoparticles on nanocarbon•High activity toward electrochemical conversion of arsenite (As III) to arsenate (As V)•Opens a new avenue for mitigating the risk of arsenic pollution.