Oxide (Co3O4, NiO, Mn3O4, MgO) promoted Au/C catalyst for glycerol electrooxidation in alkaline medium

• Co3O4, NiO, Mn3O4 and MgO are firstly reported to enhance Au for glycerol oxidation.
• Onset potential of glycerol oxidation on Au/C is lower 215 mV by addition MgO.
• Current at −0.3 V of glycerol oxidation on Au/C is 5.4 times higher by addition MgO.

Glycerol has a very high value of onset potential on the Au/C electrode, so it is difficult to be electrochemically oxidized on the pure Au electrocatalyst. When Co3O4, NiO, Mn3O4 and MgO are added to the Au/C, the values of onset potential of glycerol oxidation shift negatively 171, 191, 156 and 215 mV than that on the Au/C. Au–Co3O4(wt 4:1)/C, Au–NiO(wt 5:1)/C, Au–Mn3O4(wt 5:1)/C and Au–MgO(wt 2:1)/C show the highest activity for glycerol electrooxidation for respective oxide promoted Au/C. The addition of oxides to the Au/C obviously promotes the catalytic activity and stability for glycerol electrooxidation.

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