Abstract
Ni/C electrocatalysts were prepared by chemical deposition of nickel nanoparticles on Vulcan XC-72R carbon black using microwave irradiation technique. The time of microwave irradiation during the reduction step and nickel weight percentage were varied. This was found to affect the morphology of formed Ni/C powder as shown by TEM analysis. Increasing nickel weight percentage results in the formation of more aggregated deposits. The electrocatalytic activity of different Ni/C samples towards methanol oxidation reaction in KOH solution was studied by applying cyclic voltammetry, chronoamperometry and electrochemical impedance spectroscopic techniques. Ni/C electrocatalyst containing 30wt.% Ni [Ni/C-30] shows 5.2 times higher electrocatalytic activity than that with 10wt.% Ni [Ni/C-10]. Heating Ni/C powder into microwave oven using the pulse mode of 30s on/10s off forms the most stable electrocatalyst for prolonged oxidation reaction. Electrochemical impedance measurements show that Ni/C-30 electrocatalyst has the lowest impedance value of 0.022kΩcm2, while the highest one is for Ni/C-10 [0.331kΩcm2] in (0.4M methanol+0.5M KOH) solution at 500mV. It confirms that Ni/C-30 has the highest electrocatalytic activity towards methanol oxidation reaction.
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
