Synthesis of a super-hydrophobic Ni–ITO nanocomposite with pine-cone and spherical shaped micro-nanoarchitectures by pulse electrodeposition and its electrocatalytic application

Abstract

A super-hydrophobic Ni–ITO nanocomposite on a mild steel substrate was prepared by a pulse electrodeposition method from a nickel sulphamate electrolyte and was examined as an electrocatalyst for electo-reduction of nitrobenzene. The chemical composition, surface morphology, surface topography, preferred orientation and contact angle of deposited Ni and Ni–ITO nanocomposite electrodes were analysed by EDAX, FE-SEM, AFM, XRD and static contact angle mode using the Laplace–Young calculation method. Electrochemical reduction of nitrobenzene on this super-hydrophobic electrode was studied by cyclic voltammetry. The spherical nanostructures with a high active surface area, high contact angle (161.8°) and higher electrocatalytic performance for the reduction of nitrobenzene were obtained on the super-hydrophobic Ni–ITO nanocomposite compared to a nickel deposit alone (contact angle 110°).