ELECTROCATALYTIC OXIDATION OF ALCOHOLS ON Cu2O/Cu THIN FILM ELECTRODEPOSITED ON TITANIUM SUBSTRATE

A novel class of nanomaterials consisting of a composite thin film of cooper metal nanoparticles and cuprous oxide (Cu2O/Cu) for the catalytic electrooxidation of methanol, ethanol and ethylene glycol is considered here. The material was prepared by electrochemical deposition under a potentiostatic condition of −250mV vs saturated calomel electrode (SCE) from acetate bath at titanium substrate. The effect of electrodeposition time on the structure, composition and morphology of the deposit was investigated using X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The results indicated the formation of pure cuprous oxide Cu2O thin film at low electrodeposition time (5 min) and Cu2O oxide thin film decorated with Cu nanoparticles (Cu2O/Cu) at high electrodeposition time. The obtained Cu2O and Cu2O/Cu thin films were explored for the electrochemical oxidation of alcohols in 1 M NaOH alkaline medium using cyclic voltammetry (CV) method. The Cu2O/Cu thin film grown at electrodeposition time of 15 min shows the best electrocatalytic performance toward ethanol oxidation. The effect of concentration of alcohols on the oxidation reaction was studied by CV and chronoamperometry. It was found that the reaction is governed by an irreversible diffusion process. The promising electrocatalytic activity of the Cu2O/Cu electrode provides a new platform for the fabrication of high-performance thin films for alcohols oxidation in alkaline medium. Therefore, the Cu2O/Cu electrode is a suitable as a less expensive electrocatalyst for alcohols oxidation.