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Ultramicroelectrode Studies of Self-Terminated Nickel Electrodeposition and Nickel Hydroxide Formation upon Water Reduction

Published

Author(s)

Nicole Ritzert, Thomas P. Moffat

Abstract

The interaction between electrodeposition of Ni and electrolyte breakdown, namely the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) via H3O+ and H2O reduction, was investigated under well-defined mass transport conditions using ultramicroelectrodes (UME’s) coupled with optical imaging, generation/collection scanning electrochemical microscopy (G/C-SECM), and preliminary microscale pH measurements. For 5 mmol/L NiCl2 + 0.1 mol/L NaCl, pH 3.0, electrolytes, the voltammetric current at modest overpotentials, i.e., between –0.6 V and –1.4 V vs. Ag/AgCl, was distributed between metal deposition and H3O+ reduction, with both reactions reaching mass transport limited current values. However, upon the onset of H2O reduction, an unusual sharp current spike appeared, accompanied by a transient increase in H2 production and a slight alkaline shift in the pH of the diffusion layer. The peak potential of the current spike was a function of both Ni(H2O)62+(aq) concentration and pH. The sharp rise in current was ascribed to the onset of autocatalytic H2O reduction, where electrochemically-generated OH– species induce heterogeneous nucleation of a thin Ni(OH)a 2–a·xH2O layer, whose perimeter is reportedly active for H2¬O reduction. As the layer coalesces, further metal deposition is quenched while H2O reduction continues albeit at a decreased rate as fewer reactive sites Ni/Ni(OH)2 island edges are available. At potentials below –1.5 V vs. Ag/AgCl, H2O reduction is accelerated, leading to homogeneous precipitation of Ni(OH)a(Cl)b 2–a–b·xH2O within the nearly hemispherical diffusion layer of the UME.
Citation
Journal of Physical Chemistry C

Citation

Ritzert, N. and Moffat, T. (2016), Ultramicroelectrode Studies of Self-Terminated Nickel Electrodeposition and Nickel Hydroxide Formation upon Water Reduction, Journal of Physical Chemistry C (Accessed March 29, 2024)
Created November 14, 2016, Updated February 19, 2017