Electrosynthesis of eco-friendly electrocatalyst based nickel-copper bimetallic nanoparticles supported on poly-phenylenediamine with highest current density and early ethanol oxidation onset potential

Bimetallic catalysts have been investigated as the most efficient materials to accelerate the chemical transformations at the anode in Direct Ethanol Fuel Cells. A comparative study is presented here to synthesize Ni–Cu bimetallic nanoparticles for the ethanol oxidation reaction on three conducting polymers: poly-ortho-phenylenediamine, poly-meta-phenylenediamine, and poly-para-phenylenediamine. X-ray diffraction (XRD), Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM), and Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy (EIS) were used to analyze the modified electrodes. A series of bimetallic Ni–Cu nanoparticles with tunable ratios were successfully synthesized by simply changing the concentrations of Nickel and Copper. It has been confirmed that the best Ni/Cu molar ratio was 25% in the aspect of catalytic performance. The electrocatalyst exhibited an excellent catalytic activity with an anodic current of 70.5 mA cm−2 at the lowest onset potential of 0.39 V with impressive stability. Ni4Cu1/PpPD should be considered as a good alternative to noble metal anode catalyst. [Display omitted] •Ni4Cu1/PpPD a novel cost-effective and eco-friendly electrocatalyst was designed.•Ni4Cu1 bimetallic nanoparticles were electrochemically synthesized on PpPD.•The catalyst exhibits high-electrocatalytic performance towards ethanol oxidation.•An impressive stability and anodic current of 70.5 mA cm−2 at low onset potential 0.39 V was achieved.