Enhanced electrocatalytic hydrodechlorination of 2,4-dichlorophenol over palladium nanoparticles loading on dendrite-like Ni-Cu-P interlayer

Abstract

A new electrode with high electrocatalytic hydrodechlorination activity was prepared by pulse electrodeposition of Pd nanoparticles on a dendrite-like Ni-Cu-P interlayer with foam nickel as the substrate. The physical and chemical properties of the composite electrode were systematically investigated by various characterizations. The dechlorination performance was evaluated with 2,4-dichlorophenol as the model pollutant. The results indicated that in 150 min the dechlorination efficiency over the electrode without the Ni-Cu-P interlayer was only 52.7 %, while 100 % of 2,4-dichlorophenol could be removed by the composite electrode. The enhanced dechlorination performance was mainly attributed to the synergic effect between Pd nanoparticles and the Ni-Cu-P interlayer. The dendrite morphology of Ni-Cu-P facilitated Pd nanoparticle dispersion, thus providing more active sites and reducing the consumption of Pd. Furthermore, the Ni-Cu-P interlayer assisted Pd0 to produce more active hydrogen and increased the content of Pd2+ to promote CCl bond cleavage. Consequently, the dechlorination performance was improved.