Synthesis the flower-like N-C/NiO nanocomposites by one-pot hydrothermal method as efficient electrocatalyst for methanol oxidation in alkaline electrolyte

Abstract Currently, Substituting methanol oxidation reaction with a low theoretical potential for water oxidation reaction is one of the hotspots in the study of water splitting to hydrogen production. In this work, N-C/NiO nanocomposites with different morphologies were synthesized by one-pot hydrothermal method. Interestingly, the tremella-like N-C/NiO nanocomposites turned into looser flower-like structure at the existence of N-C-SiO2 nanosheets supporting in the hydrothermal process. Meanwhile, the silica in the N-C-SiO2 nanosheets was removed by urea in hydrothermal reaction. The introduction of the N-C-SiO2 nanosheets has a vital influence to enhance the electrochemical performance of the N-C/NiO nanocomposites. The flower-like N-C/NiO nanocomposites exhibit large electrochemically active surface area and superior electrocatalytic performance for methanol oxidation reaction (MOR) in alkalic electrolyte. It displays excellent electrocatalytic activity with a highly mass activity (3298 mA mg−1) and long-time stability (remain 50% after 36,000 s) toward MOR, which are 35.0 and 2.9 folds higher than that of the commercial 10%-Pt/C, respectively.