ELECTROOXIDATION OF PROPANOL ON A MODIFIED NI-NI5P2 ELECTRODE IN AN ALKALINE ENVIRONMENT

Nickel and Ni-P alloy layers subjected to preliminary electrochemical treatment in 5 M KOH solution were used as anode material in the oxidation reaction of propanol-1. The suitability of the oxide layers obtained for electrocatalytic oxidation of propyl alcohol was assessed using a potentiodynamic method in the temperature range 293-333 K. Using the calculated value of the activation energy, it was possible to determine the influence of the presence of crystalline Ni5P2 in the Ni-P alloy on the electro-oxidation of propanol. It was found that the nickel phosphides in the crystalline state of Ni-P alloys are responsible for the occurrence of a layer of nickel oxides which are more active than those found on nickel surfaces. It may be concluded that the joint presence of nickel oxides in various degrees of oxidation plus the crystalline nickel phosphides, induces the electrocatalytic effect of alcohol oxidation in the alkaline environment.