Nanomaterials synthesis by electrodeposition techniques for high-energetic electrodes in fuel cell

Abstract

Nanosynthesis by electrodeposition technique is very much encouraging as it gives nanograin size with the right morphology and the required electrocatalytic properties, by simply controlling the parameters of current, potential and electrolyte chemistry and using inexpensive equipments. This article discusses the mechanism of electrodeposition at atomistic level and the effects of various controlling parameters to enhance the rate of nucleation and to depress the rate of growth so that the electrodeposition produces nanostructure. Organic inhibitors are found to have a strong influence on the formation of nanodeposit. Pulse current electrodeposition is a better technique than the normal direct current to encourage more nucleation than growth. The operating parameters of nano-electrodeposition, for a particular metal or oxide, can be found by a few laboratory experiments, namely, cyclic voltammetry, chronoamperometric and potentiodynamic polarization.