A graphite-supported platinum–nickel nanocatalyst has outperformed its platinum-only counterpart at oxidizing ethanol in alkaline conditions, according to a study combining laboratory experiments with computer simulations. Researchers synthesized both Pt/Graphite and Pt–Ni/Graphite electrocatalysts using a simple chemical reduction method with pristine graphite as a low-cost support, then characterized their structures and morphologies with field-emission scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, energy-dispersive X-ray analysis, and elemental mapping.
The electrochemical evaluation relied on cyclic voltammetry, chronoamperometry, and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. The nickel-containing catalyst showed a higher electrochemically active surface area than Pt/Graphite, at 59 versus 42 square meters per gram, and delivered a higher current density of 0.49 compared with 0.32 milliamperes per square centimeter. Charge-transfer resistance was also lower for the bimetallic material, at 1.57 ohms versus 3.02 ohms. In addition, the oxidation potential region shifted to more negative values for Pt–Ni/Graphite, which the authors interpret as indicating more favorable ethanol oxidation behavior.
The experimental work was complemented by quantum-mechanical calculations using density functional theory, along with molecular-mechanical simulations that included Monte Carlo and molecular dynamics approaches. The DFT results showed an increase in adsorption energy on graphene from 34.38 kilocalories per mole for platinum to 84.09 kilocalories per mole for the platinum–nickel pair, while the ethanol interaction energy rose from 47.73 kilocalories per mole for Pt/Gr to 114.31 kilocalories per mole for Pt–Ni/Gr. These computational findings align with the measured electrochemical trends, suggesting that adding nickel strengthens both the catalyst’s anchoring to the carbon support and its interaction with ethanol molecules.
Overall, the experimental and computational results consistently support the superior electrocatalytic performance of Pt–Ni/Graphite toward ethanol oxidation in alkaline medium, highlighting its potential as a promising anode catalyst for direct ethanol fuel cell applications. The study, published as an open-access article in Discover Applied Sciences, is presented as peer-reviewed, accepted research shared early for faster access, and its version is subject to further edits before the final Version of Record.
Subject of Research: Experimental and computational evaluation of a graphite-supported Pt–Ni nanocatalyst for ethanol electro-oxidation in alkaline medium
Article Title: Experimental and computational investigation of graphite-supported Pt–Ni nanocatalyst for ethanol electro-oxidation in alkaline medium
Article References: Eshghi, A., Evazi, M., Nekoei, A.-R., & Sajedinia, S. (2026). Experimental and computational investigation of graphite-supported Pt–Ni nanocatalyst for ethanol electro-oxidation in alkaline medium. Discover Applied Sciences. https://doi.org/10.1007/s42452-026-09792-7
Image Credits: AI Generated
DOI: 10.1007/s42452-026-09792-7
Keywords: ethanol oxidation reaction, platinum-nickel catalyst, graphite support, direct ethanol fuel cell, alkaline medium, density functional theory, electrocatalysis, charge-transfer resistance, electrochemically active surface area, molecular dynamics, Experimental, computational
News Source: Bethany Barker. (October 30, 2026). Nickel Boosts Platinum Catalyst for Ethanol Fuel Cells in New Study. Scienmag.
