Platinum dissolution and ethanol oxidation reaction on Pt-activated nickel foam in sodium hydroxide solution

Electrochemical oxidation of ethanol becomes an important process of modern electrochemistry, due to its potential application into direct ethanol fuel cell technology. As rates of ethanol oxidation reaction (EOR) are significantly enhanced in alkaline media, employment of highly corrosion resistant under alkaline conditions, but non-noble metals becomes of superior practical importance. This communication article reports on the process of anodic dissolution of platinum, which is investigated on Pt-activated, electrooxidized nickel foam electrodes, employed for ethanol oxidation reaction in 0.1 M sodium hydroxide solution. The above was revealed through the application of cyclic voltammetry and combined SEM/EDX (scanning electron microscopy and energy dispersive x-ray) spectroscopy examinations.