Synthesis of dendritic nano-sized nickel for use as anode material in an alkaline membrane fuel cell

Dendritic nano-sized nickel nanoparticles were synthesised using a hydrazine reduction method in ethylene glycol from a nickel chloride precursor. The resulting particles were characterised by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM). Dendritic nickel has a network structure which is ideal to be used as electrode for electrochemical devices such as fuel cells. The prepared dendritic nickel nanoparticles were used as anodes for an alkaline membrane fuel cell using poly(vinyl)alcohol (PVA)/tetraethyl ammonium chloride (TEAC) alkaline blend electrolyte membrane with a PVA/TEAC ratio of 1:5. A current density of 11.5 mA cm(-2) has been achieved when methanol was used as the fuel.