Preparation of graphene supported nickel nanoparticles and their application to methanol electrooxidation in alkaline medium

Abstract

In this paper, we present the synthesis of Ni nanoparticles supported on graphene (Ni/G) using graphene oxide (GO) and Ni²⁺ ions as starting materials. GO is mixed with NiCl₂ solution and treated by hydrazine. Hydrazine both reduces the GO and forms a complex with nickel(II). A treatment in the tubular furnace allows decomposing the nickel-hydrazine complex into Ni metallic nanoparticles as well as further reducing the GO into graphene. The materials are characterized by X-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and thermogravimetry–mass spectrometry as well as tested for methanol electrooxidation in alkaline medium.