On the Temperature Performance of Ethanol Oxidation Reaction at Palladium-Activated Nickel Foam

Abstract

The present paper reports on ethanol oxidation reaction (EOR) investigated at catalytically modified nickel foam material. The EOR was studied in 0.1 M NaOH supporting electrolyte on Pd-activated nickel foam catalyst material, obtained by a spontaneous deposition method. Catalytic modification of Ni foam resulted in a composite material having superior EOR kinetics, as elucidated through corresponding values of a.c. impedance-derived charge-transfer resistance parameter (including temperature-dependence of the EOR over the temperature range 20–60 °C). The presence of a catalytic additive was disclosed from SEM and XRD analyses.