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Abstract
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In the present study, nickel (Ni) and Ni alloy (Ni–Cu and Ni–Co) nanoparticles modified carbon-ceramic
electrodes (Ni/CCE, Ni–Cu/CCE and Ni–Co/CCE) were prepared by an electrochemical process for the
oxidation of glycerol. In order to obtain the surface and physicochemical information, the Ni/CCE, Ni–
Cu/CCE and Ni–Co/CCE were investigated by scanning electron microscopy, energy dispersive X-ray
spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction and electrochemical techniques. Then, cyclic voltammetry and
chronoamperometry were employed to characterize the electrocatalytic activity of the modified
electrodes, Ni/CCE, Ni–Cu/CCE and Ni–Co/CCE, toward the oxidation of glycerol in 1.0 M NaOH
solution. It was found that the Ni alloy nanoparticle modified electrodes are catalytically more active
than the Ni/CCE, therefore, the alloying of the Ni with Cu and Co in the form of nanoparticles on the
carbon-ceramic electrode, as a homemade substrate, greatly enhances the catalytic activity of the Nibased
electrocatalysts (as the non-platinum electrocatalysts) in glycerol oxidation.
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