Fabrication of Novel Titanium‐supported Ni‐Sn Catalysts for Methanol Electro‐oxidation

Abstract

Abstract Novel titanium‐supported Ni‐Sn/Ti electrodes (Ni 8 Sn/Ti, Ni 7 Sn 3 /Ti and Ni/Ti) have been prepared using a hydrothermal method by a one step process. The scanning electron microscopy (SEM) images show that the catalyst particles are present as nano‐scale flakes. Their electrochemical activity for methanol oxidation in 1 mol·L −1 NaOH was evaluated using voltammetric techniques, chronoamperometric measurements and electrochemical impedance spectra (EIS). It was found that the Ni 8 Sn/Ti electrode presents higher anodic currents and lower onset potential for methanol oxidation than Ni 7 Sn 3 /Ti, Ni/Ti and polycrystalline Ni electrodes. The EIS data indicate that under conditions of various anodic potentials and methanol concentrations, the Ni 8 Sn/Ti electrode displays significantly lower charge transfer resistances and high electrocatalytic activity towards methanol oxidation.