Electrodeposition and Characterization of Nickel-Copper Alloy Films as Electrode Material in Alkaline Media

A new and simple electrochemical procedure of anodic codeposition of nickel and copper oxide-hydroxide species on the gold electrode substrate from alkaline solutions is described. The electrodeposited alloy film, with an average composition Ni:Cu of 0.67 ( i.e. , was investigated by electrochemical, scanning electron microscopy, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy techniques. The resulting deposited alloys appear uniform, smooth, adherent to the gold substrate, and homogeneous, independently of the electrochemical procedure adopted for the preparation ( i.e. , potentiostatic or potentiodynamic conditions). The presence of copper oxyhydroxide species in deposited film imparts an extensive stabilization of the β/β crystallographic forms of the nickel oxyhydroxide under prolonged repetitive potential cycling in alkaline medium. The electrocatalytic activity of the resulting composite Ni-Cu film was investigated toward the oxidation of carbohydrates using glucose as a model compound.