Micellar-Assisted Sol−Gel-Derived Spinel CuMn2O4 Nanoparticles as an Efficient Non-noble Electrocatalyst for Ethanol Oxidation

Résumé fourni par la source

Abstract To address the increasing global energy demand, the advancement of direct ethanol fuel cells (DEFCs) relies on the development of efficient and cost-effective non-noble metal electrocatalysts as alternatives to expensive noble metal electrodes. In this study, CuMn2O4 nanoparticles were synthesized via a micellar-assisted sol−gel method and evaluated as a non-precious metal oxide electrocatalyst for the ethanol oxidation reaction. The synthesis approach produced uniform nanoparticles with an average particle size of approximately 120 nm. The electrocatalyst demonstrated excellent catalytic activity, achieving a peak current density of 10.10 mA cm−2 at a potential of 1.56 V. It also exhibited high tolerance toward CO poisoning, indicating strong resistance to intermediate species during ethanol oxidation. The CuMn2O4 nanoparticles displayed faster reaction kinetics with a Tafel slope of 132 mV dec−1, along with a low charge transfer resistance (Rct) of 55 Ω, reflecting efficient interfacial electron transport. CuMn2O4 maintained remarkable electrochemical stability, and a maximum current response of 20.80 mA cm−2 was observed for ethanol oxidation. These results highlight the robust electrocatalytic performance of CuMn2O4, attributed to the synergistic redox activity of Cu and Mn sites, nanoscale morphology, and the stable spinel framework. This work demonstrates the potential of CuMn2O4 as a sustainable and high-performance alternative to noble metal-based catalysts for direct ethanol fuel cell applications and contributes to the growing interest in spinel oxides for renewable energy conversion technologies.

Ce résumé expose les affirmations des auteurs. BNTIC ne l’interprète pas comme une validation indépendante des résultats.