MoS2/NiO hybridized with reduced graphene oxide for glycerol and sorbitol electrooxidation

Using glycerol and sorbitol as fuels in fuel cells has received limited attention in the literature. This study presents the synthesis of a composite material comprising molybdenum disulfide (MoS₂) and nickel oxide (NiO) via a hydrothermal method, which was subsequently hybridized with reduced graphene oxide (RGO) to enhance its catalytic performance. The catalytic activity of the MoS₂/NiO/RGO composite for the oxidation of glycerol and sorbitol was systematically evaluated. The results demonstrated exceptional catalytic activity, with the current density of 311 mA/cm² at 0.5 V for MoS₂/NiO/RGO catalyst during glycerol oxidation reaction (GOR). Furthermore, the catalyst exhibited remarkable stability, maintaining 86.6 % of its activity after 5 h of chronoamperometric analysis in the glycerol oxidation reaction. In the case of the sorbitol oxidation reaction (SOR), the MoS₂/NiO/RGO composite delivered impressive results, achieving 205 mA/cm² at 0.51 V and a stability of 90.2 %. This research is promising for introducing cost-effective, durable, and efficient catalysts to oxidize alternative fuels, with potential applications in fuel cell anodes.