Development of Co–N–C-Deposited Nickel Foam for Energy-Saving Hydrogen Production via Electrocatalytic Conversion of Glycerol

The coproduction of hydrogen and valuable products driven by the electrocatalytic glycerol oxidation reaction has recently garnered increasing attention. However, the poor active centers and high charge resistance of the utilized anode material could be considered as the primary issues, limiting overall glycerol oxidation performance. This work presents the development of a novel Co–N–C@NF electrocatalyst involving the participation of collagen, serving as a coordinative agent for the first time. The employed characterizations unveil the existence of Co–N–C-species-anchored nickel foam. Such a unique architecture, possessing numerous active sites and facilitating charge transportation, results in an outstanding electrocatalytic glycerol oxidation reaction. Thus, the Co–N–C@NF electrode delivers a low operating potential of 1.32 V vs RHE at 10 mA·cm–2. Furthermore, the Co–N–C@NF catalyst also shows high Faradaic efficiency and selectivity values toward H2 and formic acid, as confirmed by NMR analysis, respectively. These findings highlight the promising application of the Co–N–C@NF catalyst as a robust candidate for glycerol-oxidation-reaction-driven hydrogen and value-added chemical production.