Thin layer of Ni-modified 13X zeolite on glassy carbon support as an electrode material in aqueous solutions

A new type of an electrode material, zeolite modified by the incorporation of Ni or NiO clusters into its cavities, was synthesized by multiple impregnation of zeolite 13X with a Ni-acetylacetonate solution followed by solvent evaporation and thermal degradation of the nickel compound. Samples with a Ni/13X mass ratio within the range 0.2-1.0 were synthesized. Modification by both Ni and NiO clusters, depending on whether the atmosphere was reducing (H-2) or oxidizing (air), respectively, was used to finish the sample. After modification, the zeolite kept its original crystallographic structure, as proven by X-ray diffractommetry. The dimensions of the incorporated clusters were limited by the diameter of the zeolite cavities (reaching1.3 nm). This material, homogenized with 10 wt% of nanodispersed carbon, was bonded in the form of a thin layer to a glassy carbon disc by means of Nafion and used as an electrode material in an aqueous 0.1 M NaOH solution. The cyclovoltammograms of this thin-layer electrode resemble those of a smooth nickel electrode in alkaline solutions