Self-supported iron-doped nickel sulfide as efficient catalyst for electrochemical urea and hydrazine oxidation reactions

The electrochemical oxidation of urea and hydrazine over self-supported Fe-doped Ni3S2/NF (Fe–Ni3S2/NF) nanostructured material is presented. Among the various reaction conditions Fe–Ni3S2/NF-2 prepared at 160 °C for 8 h using 0.03 mM Fe(NO3)3 shows the best results for the hydrazine and urea oxidation reactions. The potential values of 0.36, 1.39, and 1.59 V are required to achieve the current density of the 100 mA cm−2 in 1 M hydrazine (Hz), 0.33 M urea, and 1 M KOH electrolyte, respectively. The onset potential in 1 M KOH, 0.33 M Urea +1 M KOH, and 1 M Hz + 1 M KOH values are 1.528, 1.306, and 0.176 respectively. The Fe–Ni3S2/NF-2 shows stable performance at 10 mA cm−2 until 50 h and at 60 mA cm−2 over the 25 h. A cell of PtC//Fe–Ni3S2/NF-2 requires the potential of 0.49, 1.46, and 1.59 V for the hydrogen production in 1 M Hz + 1 M KOH, 0.33 M Urea +1 M KOH, and 1 M KOH electrolyte, respectively, at a current density of 10 mA cm−2, and almost 90% stable for the hydrogen production over the 80 h in all electrolytes. The improvement of the chemical kinetics of urea and hydrazine oxidation is due to the synergistic effect of the adsorption and fast electron transfer reaction on Fe–Ni3S2/NF-2. The doped Fe ion facilitates the fast electron transfer and the surface of Ni3S2 support to the urea and hydrazine molecule adsorption.