Abstract
A g-C3N4/VC composite material comprising of graphitic carbon nitride (g-C3N4) and Vulcan carbon (VC) with different ratios, i.e., 2:1, 1:1, and 1:2 were prepared through hydrothermal method without using any additives. These composite materials were further utilized as a support for Ni(OH)2 nanoparticles. These materials formed new type of Ni/(g-C3N4/VC) composite materials. The SEM images show the sheet-like structure of the graphitic carbon nitride. Although Ni nanoparticles' electrochemical activity over the surface for graphitic carbon nitride was slightly more compared to Ni supported on the Vulcan carbon, the Ni supported on the different composite supports demonstrated an outstanding activity compared with that over the single supports. Among the different composite ratios of the graphitic carbon nitride to the Vulcan carbon, the one with high Vulcan carbon, i.e., 2:1, exhibited the best performance that is nine-times the current density in comparison to that of Ni over Vulcan carbon at 0.5 V using 2 M urea in 1 M potassium hydroxide. The stability for the prepared Ni over the composite support was high, where the degradation in the current density for more than 2 hours was negligible.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 160-168 |
Number of pages | 9 |
Journal | Journal of the Taiwan Institute of Chemical Engineers |
Volume | 116 |
Early online date | 28 Nov 2020 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - Nov 2020 |
Bibliographical note
Funding Information:The authors appreciate the University of Sharjah for the support of this work through project No. 16020406129.
Keywords
- catalyst support
- Graphitic carbon nitride
- Graphitic carbon nitride composite with Vulcan carbon
- Ni(OH) nanoparticles
- Urea fuel cell
- Urea oxidation