The Activity of Alloy Cu-Ni Electrode in Electroreduction of Aromatic Nitro-Compounds

Cu-Ni alloy on the basis of copper at different ratio Cu/Ni are prepared by codepostion. The cathode activtiy of film are studied by steady-state polarization for electroreduction nitro-benzene (NB) and 1,5-dinitroanthraquinone (1,5-DNA) to p-aminophenol and 1,5-diamino-4,8-dihydroanthraquinone respectly. The results show that the alloy cathodes at different ratio Cu/Ni have different exchange current density (io) and apparent activition energy (EA). The alloy (CN-30) has maximal io and minimal EA by codeposition at the following conditions: electrolyte: 0.05 mol/L CuSO4·5H2O+0.6 mol/L NiSO4·6H2O+0.25 mol/L Na3Cit·2H2O; current density: 0.6 A/dm2, pH=6, temperature at 50 ℃. Compared with the common cathodes such as Cu, Cu/Hg, Monel alloy, CN-30 alloy is more suitable in these system.