Synthesis and application of Cu(OH)2 nanowires on nanoporous copper prepared by dealloying Ti50Cu50 and Ti25Zr25Cu50 amorphous alloys

In the present study, nanoporous copper was prepared by dealloying Ti50Cu50 and Ti25Zr25Cu50 amorphous ribbons. The copper hydroxide with catalytic properties was prepared by anodic oxidation on the surface with different porosity rate of copper (nano). In the process of dealloying, due to the large difference of potential between Ti and Cu, Ti was firstly dissolved. After oxidation, the as-obtained hybrid electrodes were applied in the electro-oxidation of methanol in alkaline media. The current density of Ti25Zr25Cu50 (21 mA cm-2) was higher than that obtained form Ti50Cu50 (16 mA cm-2) in a mixture solution of 0.1 M NaOH containing 0.08 M methanol. With the increase of methanol concentration, the current density increased gradually. When the concentration of the methanol was higher than 0.08 M, the current density increased slowly, being limited by the surface area of the composite electrode. These results can help to produce low-cost, methanol-based fuel cells.

Automated summary

In this study, nanoporous copper was prepared by dealloying Ti50Cu50 and Ti25Zr25Cu50 amorphous ribbons. The resulting copper hydroxide with catalytic properties was used in the electro-oxidation of methanol. Ti25Zr25Cu50 showed a higher current density compared to Ti50Cu50, and the current density increased gradually with the increase of methanol concentration.