Single-ion catalyst of Ni2+ anchored in the interlayer space of layered MnO2 for electro-oxidation of ethanol in alkaline electrolyte

Abstract

A novel catalyst design for electro-oxidation of ethanol is presented, which is featured with the existing state of the catalyst. Specifically, Ni2+ ions were anchored in the interstitial site of a redox active support, layered manganese dioxide (MnO2), in which the Ni2+ ions can be oxidized in situ to their active state. The MnO2-supported Ni ions could behave as a “single-ion electrocatalyst” toward the ethanol oxidation reaction (EOR) between MnO2 layers in an alkaline solution, leading to much higher utilization efficiency than those in a bulk counterpart. Namely, a mass activity of 4.30 kA g-Ni−1 was achieved with the isolated Ni ions, while that of α-Ni(OH)2 thin film was 0.93 kA g-Ni−1. Keywords: Ethanol oxidation, Manganese dioxide, Buserite, Single ion catalyst