Electrochemical electrode using nickel-containing nanostructured material having dendritic structure as active layer, and method for producing the same

1. A method for producing an electrochemical electrode comprising a conductive substrate and an active layer formed on the conductive substrate, wherein

(1) the active layer comprises a nickel-containing nanostructured material having a dendritic structure formed by agglomerating a plurality of primary particles, and

(2) each primary particle comprises a core and a shell surrounding the core wherein the core is formed of a nickel nanocrystal and the shell is formed of a nickel oxide film;

(3) the method for producing such an electrochemical electrode comprising:

Step 1 of obtaining nickel nanocrystal particles,

Step 2 of obtaining primary particles by forming a nickel oxide film on the surface of each nickel nanocrystal particle, and

Step 3 of forming a dendritic structure by agglomerating a plurality of the primary particles by depositing the primary particles substantially perpendicular to a conductive substrate,

wherein a magnetic field is applied substantially perpendicularly to the conductive substrate in Step 3.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the nickel oxide film is formed on the surface of each nickel nanocrystal particle by subjecting the nickel nanocrystal particles to an oxidation treatment in Step 2.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the nickel oxide film is formed of nickel monoxide.

4. An electrochemical electrode comprising a conductive substrate and an active layer formed on the conductive substrate,

(1) the active layer being formed of a nickel-containing nanostructured material having a dendritic structure formed by agglomerating a plurality of primary particles,

(2) the nickel-containing nanostructured material is formed by the plurality of primary particles being deposited substantially perpendicularly to the conductive substrate, and

3 each primary particle comprising a core and a shell surrounding the core wherein the core is formed of a nickel nanocrystal and the shell is formed of a nickel oxide film.

5. The electrochemical electrode according to claim 4 , wherein the nickel-containing nanostructured material is formed by the adjacent primary particles being electrically connected with one another.

6. The electrochemical electrode according to claim 4 , wherein the nickel oxide film is formed of nickel monoxide.

7. The electrochemical electrode according to claim 4 , wherein the primary particles have an average particle diameter of not less than 1 nm and not greater than 50 nm.

8. The electrochemical electrode according to claim 4 , wherein the shell has an average thickness of not less than 0.5 nm and not greater than 10 nm.