Fabrication of copper-ceria hybrid composite electrode for electrocatalytic oxidation of methanol

Copper-ceria hybrid composite electrode prepared by electrochemical co-deposition was examined for their redox process and electrocatalytic activities towards the oxidation of methanol. The structure and morphology of electrodes were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM), respectively. XRD pattern of the copper-ceria hybrid composite electrode exhibited some diffraction peaks of CeO₂ and SEM micrograph showed that it was composed of grains and flakes. The energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS) spectrum of this area also showed the presence of cerium. Cyclic voltammetry, CO stripping and chronoamperometry were performed to characterize electrocatalytic property of the prepared samples. In cyclic voltammetry studies and chronoamperometry, copper-ceria hybrid composite electrode towards oxidation of methanol showed a significantly higher response and long term stability. CO stripping results indicated the facile removal of intermediate poisoning species CO in the presence of CeO₂, which was helpful for CO and methanol electro-oxidation.