Electro-oxidation of alcohols on nickel dispersed in poly-o-aminophenol modified graphite electrode

Electro-oxidation of alcohols (methanol, ethanol, 1-propanol and 2-propanol) on nickel dispersed into a thick layer of poly-o-aminophenol on graphite electrode (GE/POAP–SDS/Ni) was investigated. Ni-doping into the polymeric film was achieved chemically followed by enrichment of Ni(III) through cycling the potential. The electro-oxidation of alcohols on GE/POAP–SDS/Ni were found to be dominated by direct electro-oxidation with some contribution from Ni(II)/Ni(III) couple. Rate constants for the electro-oxidation of methanol, ethanol, 1-propanol and 2-propanol as derived by chronoamperometry were 1.65 × 105, 1.31 × 105, 2.53 × 104 and 1.40 × 104 cm3 mol−1 s−1, respectively. Impedance spectroscopy was used to shed more light on the mechanism. Equivalent circuit is proposed and kinetic parameters of the reaction as well as the electrical parameters of the doped polymeric film are obtained.