New Pd/Co-Ni electrocatalysts for formic acid electrooxidation and their fabrication from inorganic precursor [Co0.14Ni1.86(dipic)2(phen)2(H2O)2]·4H2O.

Novel Pd/Co-Ni oxide composites were developed as electrocatalysts for formic acid electro-oxidation as a process that can be utilised in fuel cells and electrochemical sensors. For achieving this goal, the new complex [Co0.14Ni1.86(dipic)2(phen)2(H2O)2]·4H2O (1) was synthesised and used as an inorganic precursor for producing a Co-Ni mixed metal promoter. In the following, palladium nanoparticles were anchored on Co-Ni mixed metal oxides via a reaction of chemical reduction with four different loadings. The electrocatalytic activity of the electrocatalysts was investigated for HCOOH electro-oxidation by electrochemical studies. Compared with single component electrocatalysts, the new electrocatalysts exhibited higher current, improved absorption/desorption of hydrogen, and a higher loading for metal oxides.

Preparation and Characterization of a New Example of a Double Salt of Nickel(II) Complexes.

A new double salt of nickel(II) complexes, formulated as, [Ni(bipy)(H2O)4][Ni(H2O)6][Ni(pydc)2]2 • 6H2O, (1), (pydc = pyridine-2,6-dicarboxylate anion, bipy = 2,2'-bipyridine) has been hydrothermally synthesized. Complex was characterized by FT-IR spectroscopy, elemental analysis and X-ray diffraction studies. The compound 1 consists of [Ni(H2O)6]2+, [Ni(bipy)(H2O)4]2+, two symmetry-independent anionic complexes [Ni(pydc)2]2- and six co-crystallized water molecules. In the crystal structure of compound 1, the formation of extensive O-H…O hydrogen bonds between uncoordinated water molecules and cationic or anionic complexes play important roles in stabilizing the corresponding lattice and formation of 3-dimensional networks.