Nickel-Cerium Layered Double Hydroxide as Electrocatalyst for Glycerol Oxidation

A new nickel based layered double hydroxide nanomaterial, Ni 0.8 Ce 0.2 -LDH, constituted by about 3 nm large nanoparticles exhibiting enhanced electrocatalytic properties towards oxidation of glycerol in alkaline media, was prepared by incorporation of 20 wt.% of Ce III ions into -nickel hydroxide. This can be oxidized to Ce IV , as demonstrated by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, a much electron withdrawing and oxidizing species responsible for electronic interactions and additional electrocatalytic active sites giving rise to synergic effects. High-resolution transmission electron microscopy images and the X-ray diffractograms indicated a material with a significantly lower size and degree of crystallinity than -Ni(OH) 2 , one of the factors contributing to its enhanced electrochemical and electrocatalytic activity, as demonstrated by cyclic voltammetry and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, suggesting a good potentiality for development of glycerol fuel cells.