Sains Malaysiana 49(11)(2020): 2811-2820

http://dx.doi.org/10.17576/jsm-2020-4911-20

Electrophoretic Deposition of Carbon Nanotubes onto Zinc Substrates for Electrode Applications

(Pemendapan Elektroforetik Nanotiub Karbon ke dalam Substrat Zink untuk Aplikasi Elektrod)

NAPAPON MASSA-ANGKUL¹, JESPER T.N. KNIJNENBURG^2,3, PORNNAPA KASEMSIRI^1,3, CHAIYAPUT KRUEHONG¹, GÜNTHER G. SCHERER^4,5, PRINYA CHINDAPRASIR^T3,6 & KAEWTA JETSRISUPARB^1,3*

¹Department of Chemical Engineering, Khon Kaen University, 40002 Khon Kaen, Thailand

²International College, Khon Kaen University, 40002 Khon Kaen, Thailand

³Sustainable Infrastructure Research and Development Center, Khon Kaen University, 40002 Khon Kaen, Thailand

⁴Department for Management of Science and Technology Development, Ton Duc Thang University, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

⁵Faculty of Applied Sciences, Ton Duc Thang University, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

⁶Department of Civil Engineering, Khon Kaen University, 40002 Khon Kaen, Thailand

Diserahkan: 25 Disember 2019/Diterima: 22 Mei 2020

ABSTRACT

Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) as nanostructured materials have been widely used to improve electrochemical performance of electrode materials for various batteries and electrolyzers. The purpose of this work was to investigate the electrophoretic deposition (EPD) of multi-walled CNTs (MWCNTs) onto Zn plates for application in aqueous Zn ion batteries. The effects of MWCNTs on Zn oxidation and reduction were assessed using cyclic voltammetry. Before EPD, the MWCNTs were modified using H₂SO₄/HNO₃ under reflux to improve dispersion stability in water. Acid modification shortened the MWCNTs but did not cause significant changes in crystallinity, tube diameter, and interlayer spacing. In a second step, the acid modified MWCNTs were homogeneously deposited onto a conductive Zn plate by EPD. Cyclic voltammetry data indicate that the coating of Zn with MWCNTs does not affect the Zn oxidation and reduction potential. Oxidation of Zn eventually leads to formation of a ZnO film, protecting the Zn surface from corrosion. When the protective ZnO film is dissolved, the underlying Zn is oxidized, leading to unfavorable loss of Zn. The presence of MWCNTs reduces oxidation during the cathodic sweep, implying that the MWCNT coating partially protects the underlying Zn surface from oxidation during charging. In addition, the MWCNT coated electrodes also facilitate hydrogen formation and show less oxygen limitation reaction, and could thus be envisaged as possible electrode materials for energy storage devices such as bifunctional electrodes for electrolyzers or air cathodes for batteries or fuel cells.

Keywords: Carbon nanotubes; electrochemistry; electrophoretic deposition; zinc electrode

ABSTRAK

Nanotiub karbon (CNTs) sebagai bahan nano telah digunakan secara luas untuk menambahbaik prestasi elektrokimia bahan elektrod dalam pelbagai bateri dan bahan elektrod. Tujuan kajian ini ialah untuk mengkaji pemendapan elektroforesis (EPD) CNTs berbilang dinding (MWCNTs) ke atas plat Zn untuk kegunaan dalam bateri ion Zn akues. Kesan MWCNTs ke atas pengoksidaan dan penurunan Zn telah dikaji menggunakan voltametri berkitar. Sebelum EPD, MWCNTs telah diubah suai menggunakan H2SO4/HNO3 untuk menambahbaik kestabilan penyebaran dalam air. Pengubahsuaian asid memendekkan MWCNTs tetapi tidak menyebabkan perubahan nyata dalam kehabluran, diameter tiub dan jarak antara lapisan. Pada langkah kedua, MWCNTs terubah suai asid telah dimendap ke atas plat Zn melalui proses EPD. Data voltametri berkitar menunjukkan bahawa salutan MWCNTs ke atas Zn tidak menjejaskan pengoksidaan Zn dan potensi penurunan. Pengoksidaan Zn telah menyebabkan pembentukan lapisan ZnO yang melindungi permukaan Zn daripada kakisan. Setelah lapisan ZnO terlarut, Zn pada lapisan bawah telah teroksida dan menyebabkan kehilangan Zn. Kehadiran MWCNTs telah mengurangkan pengoksidaan semasa sapuan katod, menunjukkan bahawa salutan MWCNTs telah melindungi sebahagian permukaan Zn di bawah daripada pengoksidaan semasa pengecasan. Tambahan pula, elektrod bersalut MWCNTs juga membantu pembentukan hidrogen dan menunjukkan tindak balas pengehadan oksigen, dan boleh diramal sebagai bahan elektrod dalam peralatan penyimpanan tenaga seperti elektrod dwifungsi untuk bahan elektrod atau katod udara untuk bateri dan sel fuel.

Kata kunci: Elektrokimia; elektrod zink; nanotiub karbon; pemendapan elektroforesis

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*Pengarang untuk surat-menyurat; email: kaewta@kku.ac.th