Effect of Potentiostatic Double Pulse Parameters on the Electrodeposition of Silver Nanoparticles for Electrocatalytic Oxidation of Ethanol in Fuel Cells

Silver nanoparticles were electrodeposited on graphite by means of the double-pulse technique from cyanide-free bath to be used as electrocatalyst of ethanol oxidation in fuel cells. The effect of double-pulse parameters on the electrocatalytic performance and the stability of the electrocatalyst during the ethanol electrooxidation in alkaline media was investigated by field emission scanning electron microscope (FESEM), XRD and different electrochemical testing methods.The results derived showed that increasing the nucleation potential cathodically increase the nucleation rate and particle density and decrease the particle size. Meanwhile, increasing nucleation time increase the particle density, decrease particle size and increase disparity. On the other hand, increasing growth time increases the particle size, whereas increasing growth potential cathodically from (OCP) is beneficial. The double pulse electrocatalyst shows superior electrocatalytic performance and poisoning resistance over pulsed current electrodes.