Preparation of glass carbon electrode modified with nanocrystalline nickel-decorated carbon nanotubes and electrocatalytic oxidation of methanol in alkaline solution

Abstract

Nanocrystalline nickel with an average diameter of about 16 nm and a face-centered cubic (fcc) structure was uniformly attached to the surface of carbon nanotubes (CNT) by wet chemistry. The sample was characterized by X-ray powder diffraction and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). A glass carbon electrode modified with nickel-modified multi-wall carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs-Ni/GCE) was prepared. The electrochemical behavior of the MWCNTs-Ni/GCE and the electrocatalytic oxidation of methanol at the MWCNTs-Ni/GCE were investigated by cyclic voltammetry in 1.0 mol/L NaOH solution. The cyclic voltammograms showed that the electron transfer between ?-Ni(OH)₂ and ?-NiOOH is mainly a diffusion-controlled quasi-reversible process, and that the electrode has high catalytic activity for the electrooxidation of methanol in alkaline medium, revealing its potential application in alkaline rechargeable batteries and fuel cells.

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