Formation of nanoporous NiCuP amorphous alloy electrode by potentiostatic etching and its application for hydrazine oxidation

• Published in: International journal of hydrogen energy Vol. 41; no. 20; pp. 8449 - 8458
• Main Authors: Wang, Xiu-Lin, Zheng, Yi-Xiong, Jia, Meng-Lu, Yuan, Lin-Shan, Peng, Cheng, Yang, Wei-Hua
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier Ltd 01.06.2016
• Subjects: Amorphous; Bonding; Electrocatalytic oxidation; Electrodes; Etching; Hydrazine; Hydrazines; Metallic glasses; Nanoporous; Nanostructure; Nickel–copper–phosphorus alloy; Oxidation; Potentiostatic etching; Scanning electron microscopy; Amorphous; Potentiostatic etching; Electrocatalytic oxidation; Hydrazine; Nanoporous; Nickel–copper–phosphorus alloy
• ISSN: 0360-3199; 1879-3487
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ijhydene.2016.03.123

Nanoporous NiCuP amorphous alloy (NPANiCuP) and nanoporous NiCu crystalline alloy (NPNiCu) have been prepared by potentiostatic etching of copper from the electroless NiCuP and NiCu alloy platings, respectively. The results of X-ray Diffraction (XRD), Energy Dispersion Spectrum (EDS) and Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) indicate that the NPA–NiCuP alloy is amorphous structure and shows a porous network structure with the pore size of 100–300 nm. The electrocatalytic oxidation of hydrazine in alkaline media is investigated by cyclic voltammetry (CV) and double potential step chronoamperometry (DPSCA). The results suggest that the proton diffusion coefficient of redox species and the reaction rate constant of the NPA–NiCuP alloy electrode in KOH solution are higher than those of the smooth electroless NiCuP amorphous (SA–NiCuP) and NP–NiCu alloy electrodes. In addition, the NPA–NiCuP electrode has higher anodic oxidation peak current density and lower onset oxidation potential of hydrazine in KOH solution than the SA–NiCuP and NP–NiCu electrodes. Finally, the CV measurement suggests that the NPA–NiCuP electrode has a relatively stable redox behavior. [Display omitted] •NPA–NiCuP alloy electrode is fabricated by potentiostatic etching method.•Superior activity for hydrazine oxidation at NPA–NiCuP electrode.•Long lifetime of NPA–NiCuP electrode.