Skip to main content

Rhodium electrodeposition on nickel electrodes used for urea electrolysis

Abstract

A procedure for the constant potential electrodeposition of rhodium onto nickel electrodes, the subsequent surface characterizations, and electrochemical evaluation is presented. The resulting Ni/Rh electrodes were evaluated for their activity as anode catalysts for the electro-oxidation of urea. A detailed procedure for the electrodeposition of Rh onto Ni foil is provided. It is shown that the electrocatalytic performance of Ni/Rh electrodes on the oxidation of urea in alkaline medium is primarily influenced by two electrodeposition parameters: the applied electrodeposition potential and the loading of Rh (mg cm−2). An optimization for electrocatalytic performance based on the electrodeposition potential and Rh loading is demonstrated. The effect of these parameters on visual finish, surface morphology, and crystal structure was also studied.

This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution.

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Fig. 7
Fig. 8
Fig. 9
Fig. 10

References

  1. Yan W, Wang D, Botte GG (2011) Nickel and cobalt bimetallic hydroxide catalysts for urea electro-oxidation. Electrochim Acta 61:25–30

    Article  Google Scholar 

  2. Simka W, Piotrowski J, Robak A, Nawrat G (2009) Electrochemical treatment of aqueous solutions containing urea. J Appl Electrochem 39:1137–1143

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  3. Jara CC, Di Giulio S, Fino D, Spinelli P (2008) Combined direct and indirect electroxidation of urea containing water. J Appl Electrochem 38:915–922

    Article  Google Scholar 

  4. Boggs BK, King RL, Botte GG (2009) Urea electrolysis: direct hydrogen production from urine. Chem Commun 4859–4861

  5. King RL, Botte GG (2011) Hydrogen production via urea electrolysis using a gel electrolyte. J Power Sources 196:2773–2778

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. King RL, Botte GG (2011) Investigation of multi-metal catalysts for stable hydrogen production via urea electrolysis. J Power Sources 196:9579–9584

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. Vedharathinam V, Botte GG (2012) Understanding the electro-catalytic oxidation mechanism of urea on nickel electrodes in alkaline medium. Electrochimica Acta

  8. Schafer HJ (1987) Oxidation of organic-compounds at the nickel-hydroxide electrode. Top Curr Chem 142:101–129

    Article  Google Scholar 

  9. Tomishige K (2007) Oxidative steam reforming of methane over Ni catalysts modified with noble metals. J Jpn Petrol Inst 50:287–298

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  10. Hou ZY, Yashima T (2003) Small amounts of Rh-promoted Ni catalysts for methane reforming with CO2. Catal Lett 89:193–197

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  11. Wang LS, Murata K, Inaba M (2005) Steam reforming of gasoline promoted by partial oxidation reaction on novel bimetallic Ni-based catalysts to generate hydrogen for fuel cell-powered automobile applications. J Power Sources 145:707–711

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  12. Daramola DA, Singh D, Botte GG (2010) Dissociation rates of urea in the presence of NiOOH catalyst: a DFT analysis. J Phys Chem A 114:11513–11521

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  13. Schlesinger M, Paunovic M (2000) Modern electroplating, vol xiv. Wiley, New York, p 868

  14. Bard AJ, Faulkner LR (2001) Electrochemical methods: fundamentals and applications, vol xxi. Wiley, New York, p 833

  15. Oliva P, Leonardi J, Laurent JF, Delmas C, Braconnier JJ et al (1982) Review of the structure and the electrochemistry of nickel hydroxides and oxy-hydroxides. J Power Sources 8:229–255

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  16. Barnard R, Randell CF, Tye FL (1980) Studies concerning charged nickel hydroxide electrodes I. Measurement of reversible potentials. J Appl Electrochem 10:109–125

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  17. Danaee I, Jafarian M, Forouzandeh F, Gobal F, Mahjani MG (2008) Electrocatalytic oxidation of methanol on Ni and Ni–Cu alloy modified glassy carbon electrode. Int J Hydrog Energy 33:4367–4376

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  18. Majdi S, Jabbari A, Heli H (2007) A study of the electrocatalytic oxidation of aspirin on a nickel hydroxide-modified nickel electrode. J Solid State Electrochem 11:601–607

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  19. Lakhapatri SL, Abraham MA (2009) Deactivation due to sulfur poisoning and carbon deposition on Rh–Ni/Al2O3 catalyst during steam reforming of sulfur-doped n-hexadecane. Appl Catal A 364:113–121

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  20. Magruder RH, Wittig JE, Zuhr RA (1993) Wavelength tunability of the surface-plasmon resonance of nanosize metal colloids in glass. J Non-Cryst Solids 163:162–168

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  21. Bond AM, Fletcher S, Marken F, Shaw SJ, Symons PG (1996) Electrochemical and X-ray diffraction study of the redox cycling of nanocrystals of 7,7,8,8-tetracyanoquinodimethane—observation of a solid–solid phase transformation controlled by nucleation and growth. J Chem Soc-Faraday Trans 92:3925–3933

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

The authors are thankful for the financial support from the Center for Electrochemical Engineering Research at Ohio University and the Department of Defense through the U.S. Army Construction Engineering Research Laboratory (W9132T-09-1-0001). The content of the work does not reflect the position or the policy of the U.S. government.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Gerardine G. Botte.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and Permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Miller, A.T., Hassler, B.L. & Botte, G.G. Rhodium electrodeposition on nickel electrodes used for urea electrolysis. J Appl Electrochem 42, 925–934 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10800-012-0478-1

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10800-012-0478-1

Keywords