Nickel modified ionic liquid/carbon paste electrode for highly efficient electrocatalytic oxidation of methanol in alkaline medium

In this study, the electrocatalytic oxidation of methanol at nickel modified ionic liquid/carbon paste electrode (Ni/IL/CPE) in alkaline medium is presented. The ionic liquid, 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide, is incorporated into the electrode as a binder. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy is employed to evaluate the electron transfer rate of this electrode. Ni(II) ions are incorporated into the electrode by immersion of this electrode in 1.0 M nickel sulfate solution. Cyclic voltammetry and chronoamperometry techniques are used for the electrochemical study of this modified electrode in the absence and the presence of methanol. The effect of methanol concentration on the anodic peak current shows an increase in the anodic peak current up to 1.25 M. Current density of Ni/IL/CPE for methanol oxidation in alkaline media is investigated by comparison with some of the previously reported electrodes. Results show that this electrode exhibits a high efficient electrocatalytic activity toward the oxidation of methanol with the current density of 17.6 mA cm(-2). The rate constant for chemical reaction between methanol and redox sites of electrode is calculated. This new proposed electrode is simple and efficient enough, and it can be widely used as anode in direct methanol fuel cell.