Electrodeposited Ni-Cr_2O_3 nanocomposite anodes for ethanol electrooxidation

摘要

Nanocomposite coatings of Ni-Cr_2O_3 supported on carbon electrodes have been prepared by electrodeposition technique from nickel Watts bath in presence of Cr_2O_3 nanoparticles. Their electrochemical catalytic activities have been evaluated towards electrooxidation of ethanol in 1.0 M NaOH solution by using cyclic voltammetry, chronoamperometry and Tafel plots. The performance of the prepared anodes towards electrooxidation of ethanol as a function of co-deposited Cr_2O_3 content was studied. The catalytic activity of fabricated electrodes increases with increasing the volume fraction percent (V_f%) of Cr_2O_3 in the deposited film up to 7V_f%. The Ni-Cr_2O_3 /C (7V_f%) electrode displayed significantly enhanced catalytic activity and stability towards electrooxidation of ethanol compared with Ni/C electrode. The kinetic parameters of Ni(0H)2/Ni00H and ethanol oxidation at Ni/ C and Ni-Cr_2O_3 /C electrodes have been evaluated.