Fabrication of nickel stamp using e-beam evaporation and electroforming for electroreduction of carbon dioxide

Abstract

Electronic properties and electroanalytical behaviors are highly dependent on the morphologies of electrodes. Thus, many techniques are continuously developed to enhance carrier mobility by promoting the ordered packing of electrodes. In this work, the authors investigated the electroanalytical behavior of different prepared electrodes by controlling the morphologies of the electrodes through semiconductor-manufacturing techniques. A nickel stamp was fabricated by using photolithography, inductively coupled plasma etching, e-beam evaporation, and the electroforming technique. The stamp was used as an electrochemical electrode in a standard three-electrode cell in aqueous solution, thereby revealing the relationships among the microstructure, nickel stamp, and zinc oxide as a function of applied potential. The electrochemical reduction reaction was carried out in a conventional reactor in the presence of carbon dioxide. This reaction exhibited a higher faradaic efficiency for carbon monoxide and methane than that observed when flat nickel electrodes were used.