Abstract
Block, copolymer of polyethylene oxide/ polypropylene oxide/ polyethylene oxide (PEO/PPE/PEO) (Pluronic P84) are utilized as template for constructing electrode with high surface area. This electrode is of much interest for many applications including electrochemical detectors, batteries, and fuel cells. Pluronic P84 are example of a triblock copolymer to template the electrodeposition of a mesoporous nickel film. This method is found to give a high increase in surface area. TEM and XRD of Pluronic P84 templated nickel on gold surfaces shows a peak consistent with a pore to pore spacing of 9.5 nm. Electrochemical inspection of the deposited film using cyclic voltammetric exhibits that the nanostructured have high surface area and a pore structure that allows extremely fast diffusion of species to active sites within the structure.