Body Ni-Doped Glassy Carbon: Physical and Electrochemical Characterization

New material, glassy carbon body doped with nickel, (Ni-GC), with 5% (by weight) Ni, synthesized by pyrolysis of phenolformaldehyde resin + nickel acetate solid solution, was investigated from porosity, surface area and electrochemical aspects. High pore volume fraction of 0.71 cm g-1, and very developed surface area of 468 m g-1 were evidenced by mercury porosimetry and BET adsorption measurements. The influence of the doping metal on the electrochemical behavior of Ni-GC/electrolyte interface was studied, using Ni-GC both as synthesized and surface doped with platinum, while aqueous 2.5 mM H2SO4 + 1 M Na2SO4 solution served as an electrolyte. Hydrogen and the oxygen evolution was used as test electrode reactions. In order to distinguish between surface roughness and electrocatalysis effects, parallel electrochemical measurements were carried out also with a commercial carbon powder, Vulcan XC72, and smooth polycrystalline platinum.