Concurrent Deposition and Exfoliation of Nickel Hydroxide Nanoflakes Using Liquid Crystal Template and Their Activity for Urea Electrooxidation in Alkaline Medium

摘要: Nickel hydroxide nanoflakes (Ni(OH)2-NF) were prepared by chemical deposition and in situ exfoliation of nickel layers confined the aqueous domain liquid crystalline hexagonal template Brij®78 surfactant. Using excess sodium borohydride as a reducing agent generates concurrent excessive dynamic hydrogen bubbles which exfoliated fragmented precipitated within soft template. The physicochemical characterizations Ni(OH)2-NF using surface area analyser, X-ray diffraction (XRD), XPS transmission electron microscope (TEM) showed formation α-Ni(OH)2 with thickness 2–3 nm have about 450 m2 g−1 is 20 times higher than that for bare (bare-Ni) deposited without surfactant electrocatalytic activity catalyst urea electrolysis was studied cyclic voltammetry chronoamperometry techniques. has shown superior electrochemical oxidation alkaline solution exhibits more tenfold increase comparison bare-Ni deposit. enhancement electrooxidation related to superficial electroactive Ni(OH)2-NF. This new approach crystal offers platform nanostructuring wide range catalysts better catalytic performance.