Electroplating and electroless plating of Ni through/onto a porous polymerin a flow cell

Porous Ni coatings on electrodes were produced by electroplating through th e cells and pores of a generic 'high internal phase emulsion polymer' (PHIP E), a styrene-ethylhexylacrylate-divinylbenzene copolymer, and subsequent t hermal decomposition of the polymer template. Electroplating was carried ou t from flowing solutions through a polymer block fitted in the interelectro de gap of a flow-by cell. The mass transfer conditions and the flow regime in the cell were also characterized. The structure of the porous electrodep osits thus produced was determined by the distortion of the electric field through the cells and pores of the insulating polymer and depends on the cu rrent density and the thickness of the polymer layer. Porous deposits plate d at 5 mA cm(-2) showed high utilization of electroactive surface area when used as hydrogen evolving cathodes from alkaline solutions. Finally, Ni/PH IPE composite foams were prepared by Ni electroless plating through the pol ymer pores and their electrochemical surface area was evaluated.