Preparation of Nickel Modified Carbon Fibre Electrodes and their Application for Methanol Oxidation

Abstract

Nickel modified carbon fibre electrodes were prepared by electrochemical oxidation and partial reduction of a graphite fibre electrode with a slow linear potential sweep in 97% H 2 SO 4 solution followed by impregnation & ionexchange with Ni +2 species. The cyclic voltammetry of the modified electrode in an alkaline medium showed electrocatalytic activity towards methanol oxidation which is consistent with the behaviour of a polycrystalline nickel electrode in the same media. The electrode fabricated through the ion exchange with 0.1 M Ni solution provided the most significant response for solutions with lower methanol concentrations up to 0.5 M methanol while at higher concentrations of methanol, a poisoning effect was observed resulting in lower performance.

Nickel nanoparticles supported on nitrogen-doped honeycomb-like carbon frameworks for effective methanol oxidation

“…However, its agglomeration property reduces its active oxidant utilization and increases the transportation resistance in catalysis process. 3 One or two dimensional graphitized carbon materials, such as carbon nanotubes, graphene have been used as supporting materials with unique electronic and chemical properties. 4,5 For example, Gong et al used oxygen functionalized carbon nanotubes supported NiO/Ni heterostructures for hydrogen generation from water electrolysis.…”

Influence of Nitrogen doping on the Catalytic Activity of Ni-incorporated Carbon Nanofibers for Alkaline Direct Methanol Fuel Cells

“…For instance, Ni/MWCNT, CoNi-CNFs and CoNi-graphene showed good electrocatalytic toward ethanol oxidation [12][13][14]. Moreover, Risbud et al [15] introduced nickel modified carbon fiber electrodes by partial reduction and electrochemical oxidation of graphite fiber electrode which exhibited better electrocatalytic activity towards methanol oxidation than nickel foil or electrodeposited Ni. As the adsorption capacity depends mainly on the surface area and the active sites, the carbon nanomaterials are considered the optimum candidates.…”