Influence of supporting electrolyte on electrochemical formation of copper nanoparticles and their electrocatalytic properties

Comparative analysis of copper nanoparticles (CuNPs) obtained by electrodeposition on highly oriented pyrolytic graphite (HOPG) substrates from different supporting electrolytes containing sulphate anions, was performed. Voltammetric results indicated that Cu electrodeposition follows a diffusion-co...

Full description

Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Silvana García, Noelia Zurita
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: International Association of Physical Chemists (IAPC) 2021-11-01
Series:Journal of Electrochemical Science and Engineering
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.pub.iapchem.org/ojs/index.php/JESE/article/view/1077
_version_ 1818832541301342208
author Silvana García
Noelia Zurita
author_facet Silvana García
Noelia Zurita
author_sort Silvana García
collection DOAJ
description Comparative analysis of copper nanoparticles (CuNPs) obtained by electrodeposition on highly oriented pyrolytic graphite (HOPG) substrates from different supporting electrolytes containing sulphate anions, was performed. Voltammetric results indicated that Cu electrodeposition follows a diffusion-controlled nucleation and crystal growth model for three solutions studied (Na2SO4, H2SO4 and Na2SO4+H2SO4). Na2SO4 solution was found to be most effective because the copper reduction occurs at most positive potential value, reaching the highest current density. Analysis of potentiostatic current transients revealed that the process can be described predominantly by a model involving 3D-progressive nucleation mechanism, which was corroborated by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analysis. SEM images showed high density of hemispherical shaped Cu particles of different sizes (mostly between 80-150 nm), randomly distributed on the HOPG surface for Na2SO4 electrolyte solution. In the presence of H2SO4, the size dispersion decreased, resulting in particles with greater diameters (up to 339 nm). The use of electrolyte solution with Na2SO4+H2SO4 revealed lower particle density with a considerable crystal size dispersion, where very small crystallites are prevailing. Cyclic voltammetry was used to evaluate qualitatively the catalytic activity of CuNPs deposited from three electrolyte solutions towards the nitrate reduction reaction. An enhanced catalytic effect was obtained when copper particles were prepared from either Na2SO4 or H2SO4 supporting electrolytes.
first_indexed 2024-12-19T02:04:40Z
format Article
id doaj.art-8817dc49cc164142b4a1ff3c5de67f9e
institution Directory Open Access Journal
issn 1847-9286
language English
last_indexed 2024-12-19T02:04:40Z
publishDate 2021-11-01
publisher International Association of Physical Chemists (IAPC)
record_format Article
series Journal of Electrochemical Science and Engineering
spelling doaj.art-8817dc49cc164142b4a1ff3c5de67f9e2022-12-21T20:40:57ZengInternational Association of Physical Chemists (IAPC)Journal of Electrochemical Science and Engineering1847-92862021-11-0111310.5599/jese.1077Influence of supporting electrolyte on electrochemical formation of copper nanoparticles and their electrocatalytic propertiesSilvana García0Noelia Zurita1Instituto de Ingeniería Electroquímica y Corrosión (INIEC), Departamento de Ingeniería Química, Universidad Nacional del Sur, Av. Alem 1253, (8000) Bahía Blanca, ArgentinaInstituto de Ingeniería Electroquímica y Corrosión (INIEC), Departamento de Ingeniería Química, Universidad Nacional del Sur, Av. Alem 1253, (8000) Bahía Blanca, ArgentinaComparative analysis of copper nanoparticles (CuNPs) obtained by electrodeposition on highly oriented pyrolytic graphite (HOPG) substrates from different supporting electrolytes containing sulphate anions, was performed. Voltammetric results indicated that Cu electrodeposition follows a diffusion-controlled nucleation and crystal growth model for three solutions studied (Na2SO4, H2SO4 and Na2SO4+H2SO4). Na2SO4 solution was found to be most effective because the copper reduction occurs at most positive potential value, reaching the highest current density. Analysis of potentiostatic current transients revealed that the process can be described predominantly by a model involving 3D-progressive nucleation mechanism, which was corroborated by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analysis. SEM images showed high density of hemispherical shaped Cu particles of different sizes (mostly between 80-150 nm), randomly distributed on the HOPG surface for Na2SO4 electrolyte solution. In the presence of H2SO4, the size dispersion decreased, resulting in particles with greater diameters (up to 339 nm). The use of electrolyte solution with Na2SO4+H2SO4 revealed lower particle density with a considerable crystal size dispersion, where very small crystallites are prevailing. Cyclic voltammetry was used to evaluate qualitatively the catalytic activity of CuNPs deposited from three electrolyte solutions towards the nitrate reduction reaction. An enhanced catalytic effect was obtained when copper particles were prepared from either Na2SO4 or H2SO4 supporting electrolytes.https://www.pub.iapchem.org/ojs/index.php/JESE/article/view/1077Copper nanocrystalselectrodepositionplating solutionhighly oriented pyrolytic graphite (HOPG)nitrate reduction
spellingShingle Silvana García
Noelia Zurita
Influence of supporting electrolyte on electrochemical formation of copper nanoparticles and their electrocatalytic properties
Journal of Electrochemical Science and Engineering
Copper nanocrystals
electrodeposition
plating solution
highly oriented pyrolytic graphite (HOPG)
nitrate reduction
title Influence of supporting electrolyte on electrochemical formation of copper nanoparticles and their electrocatalytic properties
title_full Influence of supporting electrolyte on electrochemical formation of copper nanoparticles and their electrocatalytic properties
title_fullStr Influence of supporting electrolyte on electrochemical formation of copper nanoparticles and their electrocatalytic properties
title_full_unstemmed Influence of supporting electrolyte on electrochemical formation of copper nanoparticles and their electrocatalytic properties
title_short Influence of supporting electrolyte on electrochemical formation of copper nanoparticles and their electrocatalytic properties
title_sort influence of supporting electrolyte on electrochemical formation of copper nanoparticles and their electrocatalytic properties
topic Copper nanocrystals
electrodeposition
plating solution
highly oriented pyrolytic graphite (HOPG)
nitrate reduction
url https://www.pub.iapchem.org/ojs/index.php/JESE/article/view/1077
work_keys_str_mv AT silvanagarcia influenceofsupportingelectrolyteonelectrochemicalformationofcoppernanoparticlesandtheirelectrocatalyticproperties
AT noeliazurita influenceofsupportingelectrolyteonelectrochemicalformationofcoppernanoparticlesandtheirelectrocatalyticproperties