Electrochemical study of formate oxidation at the nickel electrode

Key Points

• This research aims to understand how formate can be oxidised at nickel electrodes and to identify the different pathways involved.
• Electrochemical experiments conducted on nickel materials
• Comparison of formate oxidation between γ-NiOOH and β-NiOOH phases
• Analysis of CO2 selectivity in an alkaline medium
• γ-NiOOH facilitates formate oxidation through a purely electrochemical pathway.
• β-NiOOH oxidises formate via a catalytic EC pathway, influenced by the Ni2+/N3+ couple.
• The reaction is selective to CO2, which is converted to carbonate in alkaline conditions.