Study the electrocatalytic performance in alkaline medium and enhanced glucose electro-oxidation by bismuth nanostructures for potential application in direct glucose fuel cell

Abstract

Although direct glucose fuel cell (DGFC) is considered as a promising energy supply system, the poor catalytic activity and substandard stability of most catalysts during glucose electro-oxidation is a serious drawback for its possible applications. In this study, different bismuth nanostructures are proposed as efficient anode electrocatalysts for the oxidation of glucose in alkaline medium. Bismuth nanospheres with smaller diameter were prepared by hydrothermal method, giving rise to active surface area and electrocatalytic performance as well toward glucose electro-oxidation. Among the prepared Bi electrocatalysts of different morphologies, uniformly spherical three dimensional structure displayed improved current density as high as 79.78 mAcm− 2 during glucose oxidation in 1 M NaOH + 6 mM glucose solution tested at 100 mVs− 1 CV scan rate. The cycling stability of the prepared catalyst was examined for 100 cycles and it showed the 79.5% retention of activity after 100 cycles. In our investigation, bismuth nanospheres having smaller diameter showed best catalytic performance. The notable electrocatalytic performance of Bi nanostructures (mainly Bi nanosphere) may make possible to design and progress of renewable power device.