Electrochemical behavior of Ni(II) incorporated in zeolite Y-modified carbon electrode: application for electrocatalytic oxidation of methanol in alkaline solution

Abstract

Nickel ions were incorporated in NaY zeolite according to cation exchange mechanism. Then NiY zeolite was used as modifier for preparation of modified carbon paste electrode. The electrochemical behavior of NiY-modified carbon paste electrode (NiY/CPE) was studied in alkaline solution using cyclic voltammetry method. Ability of different electrodes containing NiY/CPE, Ni-NiY/CPE, Ni-NaY/CPE, and Ni/CPE for electrocatalytic oxidation of methanol was compared (three last electrodes prepared by open circuit accumulation of Ni(II) ions on the surface of NiY/CPE, NaY/CPE, and bare CPE, respectively). Results show that Ni-NiY/CPE is best catalyst for the electrochemical oxidation of methanol in alkaline solution and both process of earlier Ni ion incorporation through cation exchange in NaY zeolite and open circuit accumulation of Ni ion on the surface of electrode are essential to have good catalyst. Effect of graphite–zeolite ratio on electrocatalytic current was studied and 3:1 ratio of graphite–zeolite was selected as optimum ratio for preparing electrode. Ni-NiY/CPE has very good stability toward the methanol oxidation in concentration range of 0.005 to 0.5 M. Finally, using chronoamperometric method, the catalytic rate constant (k) for methanol was found to be 1.56 × 104 cm3 mol−1 s−1.