Size control synthesis of pure Ni nanoparticles and anodic-oxidation of Butan-1-ol in alkali

Different sets of nickel nanoparticles with confined average diameter in the range: 9.4-13.7 nm are synthesized by varying different parameters of wet chemical method to investigate the effects of such parameters on anode catalysis in oxidation of butan-1-ol in aqueous alkali. The structure and morphology of the synthesized nanoparticles and the role of Ni and its oxides as catalyst in the oxidation of butan-1-ol have been characterized by Xray diffractometry, scanning and transmission electron microscopy, infrared spectroscopy, cyclic voltammetry and chronoamperometry. The average particle diameter of each set is controlled by the duration of heating of precursor solution of different compositions. The required heating time and the attained maximum temperature of the reaction mixture change by changing the amount of reducing agent, solvent composition and pH of the solution. In alkali, graphite supported Ni nanoparticles form Ni(OH)(2) and then on application of potential NiOOH which is electro-catalytically active towards the oxidation of butan-1-ol. The catalytic activity of the as synthesized material is found to depend on the diameter of the nanoparticles, purity of the synthesized Ni nanoparticles and molecular environment around catalyst which in turn depends on the production parameters. The study reveals greater catalytic activity and increased ratio of carbonate to butanoate in the products using the pure nano-catalyst obtained by the least time of heating.