High efficient rGO-modified Ni foam supported Pd nanoparticles(PRNF) composite synthesized using spontaneous reduction for hydrogen peroxide electroreduction and electrooxidation

Abstract

Constructing efficient, low-cost and durable catalyst for hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) reduction and oxidation is of significant importance for fuel cells with H2O2 as oxidant or fuel. Herein, a novel approach of two-step spontaneous reduction is developed to fabricate the 3D rGO-modified Ni foam supported Pd nanoparticles (PRNF) composite for H2O2 electroreduction and electrooxidation. The structure, morphology and composition of the PRNF composite are characterized using XRD, SEM, TEM, XPS and Raman analysis. Reduced graphene oxidation (rGO) film with ripple-liked wrinkles improves the surface area, electronic conductivity and corrosion resistance in acidic media of Ni substrate and the dispersing degree of Pd particles. The PRNF electrode exhibits excellent catalytic activity and stability towards H2O2 electroreduction in NaOH or H2SO4 solutions and electrooxidation in NaOH solutions. In addition, the Al–H2O2 semi-fuel cell and the H2O2–H2O2 fuel cell equipped with the PRNF electrode both deliver a higher power density (278 and 67.2 mW cm−2, respectively) and a long term cycle stability (over 50 h). This study introduces a facile and low-cost electrode preparation method which may provide new opportunities to develop high-performance electrodes for energy storage/conversion devices.