Ag nanoparticles supported on nickel foam: a flexible 3D electrode for methanol electrocatalytic oxidation

Abstract

Ag nanoparticles (NPs) were prepared on nickel foam (NF) electrode coated Nafion membranes (N-AgNPs/NF) using an ion-implantation method. NF is a flexible 3D electrode. The influence of the supporting material on both the morphology and the electrocatalytic activity of AgNPs for the electrocatalytic oxidation of methanol are investigated and compared with AgNPs on an indium tin oxide electrode (AgNPs/ITO). Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) data indicated that spherical monodispersed NPs were obtained on NF and ITO substrates with a size distribution in the range of 10 to 20 nm and 3 to 6 nm, respectively. The influence of the support material on the electrocatalytic activity is tested by means of cyclic voltammetry (CV) for the electrocatalytic oxidation of methanol in alkaline electrolytes. The N-AgNPs/NF electrode exhibited greater electrocatalytic activity than the AgNPs/ITO electrode for the electrocatalytic oxidation of methanol. Beneficial electrocatalytic activity is measured due to the interplay between support and AgNPs. The N-AgNPs/NF electrode has long-term stability for the electrocatalytic oxidation of methanol and possible applications in fuel cells.