Effects of electrochemical deposition of α-Ni(OH)2/Pt/Ti electrodes for ethanol anodic oxidation

The aim of this paper is to understand the factors involved in the ethanol oxidation of alpha-Ni(OH)(2) /Pt/Ti electrodes. alpha-Ni(OH)(2) films are formed on Pt in nickel nitrate solution by cathodic deposition. Both electrode deposition time and nickel nitrate concentration for preparing the working electrode affect the response current of ethanol oxidation. The results showed that oxidation of ethanol significantly depended on the thickness and porosity of alpha-Ni(OH)(2). A 0.96 mum thick alpha-Ni(OH)(2) film could oxidize ethanol effectively. If the alpha-Ni(OH)(2) film was thicker than 5.09 mum, there was no response current of ethanol oxidation. The optimal operating conditions for preparing a desired thickness of alpha-Ni(OH)(2) / Pt/ Ti electrode were 15 min at 1 mA cm(-2) current density and 1 M Ni2+. (C) 2003 The Electrochemical Society.