Deposition of Pt Nanoparticles on Ni Foam Via Galvanic Displacement

In the present study the Ni foam was modified with Pt nanoparticles via the galvanic displacement technique. A thin electroless Ni sublayer was deposited on the Ni foam substrate. Then, Pt nanoparticles were deposited on Ni/Ni foam by its immersion into a platinum(IV)-containing solution for various time periods. The morphology, structure and composition of the prepared catalysts were examined by means of Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscopy, Energy Dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy, X-ray Diffraction and Inductively Coupled Plasma Optical Emission Spectroscopy. The catalytic activity of Pt(Ni)/Ni foam with different Pt loadings was determined by measuring the amount of hydrogen generated directly from aqueous alkaline solutions of sodium borohydride and compared with that of Pt. The data on hydrogen generation volume with respect to time at different concentrations of sodium borohydride and different temperatures have been presented. It was found that the Pt(Ni)/Ni foam catalysts show enhanced catalytic activity towards hydrogen generation as compared to that of Ni/Ni foam . Acknowledgment This research was funded by a Grant (No. TEC-06/2015) from the Research Council of Lithuania.