Fabrication of nickel nanoparticles modified electrode by reverse microemulsion method and its application in electrolytic oxidation of ethanol

This paper highlights recent work on formulation and stability of nickel sulphate W/O microemulsion using hydrophilic nonionic surfactant Tween 80, and its use for electrodeposition of uniform Ni-nanoparticles on nickel plating. The prepared microemulsion was found to be crystal clear and very stable for more than 30 days at a wide range of temperature (20 ≥ T ≤ 45 °C). The Tween 80/n-hexane/n-hexanol/water microemulsion was used for fabrication of nickel nanoparticles modified nickel electrode. These electrodeposited Ni-nanoparticles were characterized by SEM, which revealed that uniform spherical nanoparticles of diameter 100–160 nm were deposited on electrode surface. The Ni-nanoelectrode was applied for electrooxidation of alcohols. The catalytic efficiency of Ni-nanoelectrode was far better than bulk electrode due to its high surface area.