Preprint Article Version 1 Preserved in Portico This version is not peer-reviewed

Methanol Oxidation Reaction in Alkaline Media using Gold Nanoparticles Recovered from Electronic Waste

Version 1 : Received: 23 January 2024 / Approved: 24 January 2024 / Online: 24 January 2024 (08:09:20 CET)

A peer-reviewed article of this Preprint also exists.

Baruch-Soto, M.; Magallón-Cacho, L.; Ramírez-Aparicio, J.; Ortega-Guzmán, J.; Borja-Arco, E. Methanol Oxidation Reaction in Alkaline Media Using Gold Nanoparticles Recovered from Electronic Waste. Materials 2024, 17, 1267, doi:10.3390/ma17061267. Baruch-Soto, M.; Magallón-Cacho, L.; Ramírez-Aparicio, J.; Ortega-Guzmán, J.; Borja-Arco, E. Methanol Oxidation Reaction in Alkaline Media Using Gold Nanoparticles Recovered from Electronic Waste. Materials 2024, 17, 1267, doi:10.3390/ma17061267.

Abstract

Electronic waste (e-waste), characterized by the widespread disposal of electronic devices, shows a growing environmental challenge. In this study, we explore the electrocatalytic potential of gold nanoparticles supported on Vulcan obtained from e-waste for their application as electrocatalysts for the methanol oxidation reaction in alkaline media. Gold nanoparticles are synthesized from gold coatings recovered from Intel Pentium 4 processor pins, highlighting their sustainability as electrocatalyst precursors. Comprehensive characterization, including UV-Vis spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy (TEM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and X-ray dif-fraction, is performed to assess the electrocatalyst's structural properties. Electrochemical evalu-ation is carried out in 0.5 M KOH electrolyte employing the rotating disk electrode technique, us-ing cyclic voltammetry for the study of methanol oxidation. Remarkably, the gold nanoparticles show electrocatalytic activity on par with commercially synthesized counterparts, demonstrating the feasibility of this approach for sustainable electrocatalyst production. Thus, this research opens new routes for utilizing e-waste as a source of valuable catalyst materials, addressing en-vironmental and technological challenges in the field of alkaline fuel cells.

Keywords

electronic waste; gold nanoparticles; electrocatalysis; methanol oxidation; alkaline fuel cells.

Subject

Chemistry and Materials Science, Materials Science and Technology

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