The electrocatalytic behavior of electrodeposited Ni-Mo-P alloy films towards ethanol electrooxidation

• Published in: Surface and interface analysis Vol. 45; no. 7; pp. 1135 - 1143
• Main Authors: Hassan, H. B., Abdel Hamid, Z.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Chichester Blackwell Publishing Ltd 01.07.2013; Wiley; Wiley Subscription Services, Inc
• Subjects: Anodizing; Catalytic activity; Condensed matter: electronic structure, electrical, magnetic, and optical properties; Condensed matter: structure, mechanical and thermal properties; Cross-disciplinary physics: materials science; rheology; DAFCs; Deposition; electrodeposition; Electrodes; electrooxidation; Ethanol; Ethyl alcohol; Exact sciences and technology; fuel cell; Ni-Mo-P alloy; Nickel; Nickel base alloys; Physics; fuel cell; electrooxidation; DAFCs; Electrodeposition; Ni-Mo-P alloy; Nickel; ethanol; Film growth
• ISSN: 0142-2421; 1096-9918
• DOI: 10.1002/sia.5239

ABSTRACT Ternary Ni–Mo–P thin films have been electrodeposited from citrate‐based electrolyte onto graphite substrates for application as anode catalysts for ethanol electrooxidation. The operating deposition parameters were optimized to produce Ni–Mo–P alloy films of outstanding catalytic activity. The phase structure of the deposits was evaluated employing X‐ray diffraction technique. Morphology and chemical composition of the deposited alloy films were studied using scanning electron microscopy and energy‐dispersive X‐ray analysis, respectively. The results demonstrated that the rate of Ni–Mo–P deposition increases with increasing the ammonium molybdate concentration in the plating electrolyte up to 10 g l−1. Also, the amount of Mo in the deposits increases with increasing the ammonium molybdate concentration up to 7.5 g l−1, and the maximum Mo content in the film was 9.1 at.%. The catalytic activity of Ni–Mo–P/C alloy films has been evaluated towards electrooxidation of ethanol in 1.0 M NaOH solution by using cyclic voltammetry and chronoamperometry. The catalytic performance of the prepared anodes as a function of the amount of Mo was studied. The results showed an increase in the oxidation peak current density of ethanol with increasing the Mo at.% in the deposited alloy films. Additionally, Ni–Mo–P/C electrodes displayed significantly improved catalytic activity and stability towards electrooxidation of ethanol compared with that of Ni–P/C electrode. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.