Enhanced electrocatalytic activity of nickel particles electrodeposited onto poly (m-toluidine) film prepared in presence of CTAB surfactant on carbon paste electrode for formaldehyde oxidation in alkaline medium

In this work, carbon paste electrode is coated with poly (m-toluidine) film by potentiodynamic electropolymerization of m-toluidine monomer in the presence of cetyltrimethyl ammonium bromide (CTAB-PMT/MCPE). Then electrolysis at fixed potential (−1.0 V versus reference electrode for 15 min) is employed for electrodepositing of Ni from 1.5 M NiSO4 acidic solution at the surface of polymer-modified electrode for preparation of Ni/CTAB-PMT/MCPE. The general electrochemical behaviors of these modified electrodes are characterized by cyclic voltammetry in alkaline media. In alkaline medium (i.e. NaOH 0.1 M) a good redox behavior of Ni(III)/Ni(II) couple at the surface of these electrodes can be observed. The nickel particles electrodeposited at the surface of Ni/CTAB-PMT/MCPE exhibits a significant electrocatalytic activity towards oxidation of formaldehyde. Moreover, the effects of various parameters such as concentration of CTAB, concentration of formaldehyde, film thickness and monomer concentration on the electrooxidation of formaldehyde as well as long-term stability of the Ni/CTAB-PMT/MCPE have also been investigated.