One-pot synthesis of MgZnFe-LDH with BDC-MOF or 1,2,4-triazole showed that the LDH/triazole composite formed a porous network, reduced sheet restacking and delivered up to 202 mA/cm² for urea oxidation at 1.0 M urea, with 0.41 V onset and 94% retention after 100 cycles. These are electrode tests in alkaline electrolyte, not a complete urea fuel cell.
Key findings
- Pore size increased from 6.7 nm for LDH to 34.5 nm for LDH/TZ. At 0.2, 0.4, 0.6, 0.8 and 1.0 M urea, LDH/TZ delivered 106, 132, 166, 180 and 202 mA/cm². Onset was 0.41 V versus 0.49 and 0.56 V, with 9.7 μF/cm² double-layer capacitance, 0.24 cm² ECSA and 2.9 Ω resistance. Current remained about 73 mA/cm² after 3,600 s and 94% after 100 cycles.
Why this matters globally
Urea oxidation may couple energy or hydrogen production with nitrogen-waste treatment. A low-cost, low-onset catalyst is attractive, but nitrogen products, energy efficiency and impurity tolerance must be measured to avoid pollution shifting.
Thai researcher contribution
One author held a joint Chulalongkorn University and Beni-Suef University affiliation, making the Thai role an international electrocatalysis collaboration rather than an all-Thai project.
Limitations to consider
Testing used 1 M KOH and up to 1 M urea, unlike real wastewater. Stability over 3,600 seconds/100 cycles is short. Faradaic efficiency, nitrogen products, energy balance and metal leaching were not reported. Current should be mass/ECSA-normalised and benchmarked under identical conditions.