Enhanced photoelectrocatalytic performance of porphyrin-modified nickel cobaltite for methanol oxidation under visible light

Rational design of efficient and durable non-precious metal electrocatalysts for methanol oxidation reaction (MOR) is a challenge of current research. In this work, the photosensitive organic molecule 5,10,15,20-tetrakis (4-carboxyphenyl) porphyrin (TCPP) has been used to modify nickel cobaltite (NiCo 2 O 4 ) nanomaterials . Under visible light irradiation , its catalytic performance for MOR is better than that of pure NiCo 2 O 4 . The photoelectrocatalytic mechanism of TCPP/NiCo 2 O 4 is attributed to the effective inhibition of photoelectron and hole recombination and then accelerated electron transfer , which are verified by photoluminescence (PL) emission spectra , impedance spectroscopy (EIS) and photocurrent response curves. Notably, the mass activity of TCPP/NiCo 2 O 4 for MOR under visible light irradiation is 299.2 mA mg −1 , higher than that of pure NiCo 2 O 4 under dark (51.2-fold) and under visible light (36.5-fold). This study is very meaningful for the development of efficient noble-metal free photoelectrocatalysts for MOR.