Catalytic Activity of Porous Pd-Ni Thin Foam towards Electrooxidation of Methanol

Abstract

Porous Pd-Ni thin foam was fabricated by a rapid one-step electrodeposition process within hydrogen bubble dynamic template and characterized by SEM, EDS, and cyclic voltammetry. Morphology and composition of the foam can be modified significantly by applying different deposition conditions, such as concentration ratio of Pd (II) ions to Ni (II) ions in electrolytic solution and deposition time. Electrocatalytic activities of the foam towards methanol oxidation in alkaline media were investigated, which depend mainly on Pd components and its morphology. Low nickel content can assist Pd further enhance the electrocatalytic performance, particularly the tolerance to intermediates of methanol oxidation, while high nickel content brings adverse effect. The high catalytic activity and the low cost of the Pd-Ni foams enable them to be promising electrocatalysts for the oxidation of methanol in alkaline media.