Additive-Mediated Electrochemical Synthesis of Platelike
Copper Crystals for Methanol Electrooxidation
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Abstract
A room-temperature
electrochemical approach to synthesizing anisotropic platelike copper
microcrystals and nanocrystals in the presence of potassium bromide
is presented. Morphological and elemental characterization was performed
using SEM, TEM, and XRD to confirm the anisotropic morphology and
crystal structure of the synthesized copper particles. A possible
mechanism for explaining the anisotropic crystal growth is proposed
on the basis of the preferential adsorption of bromide ions to selective
crystal faces. The shape-dependent electrocatalytic property of copper
particles is demonstrated by its enhanced catalytic activity for methanol
oxidation. Further development of such anisotropic copper particles
localized on an electrode surface will lead us to find a suitable
alternative for noble metal-based electrocatalysts for the methanol
oxidation reaction relevant to fuel cells