Is the Pd Aerogel Assembled by Nanosheets as an Advanced Three-Dimensional Support-less Electrocatalyst in Renewable Energy?

Abstract

The design and synthesis of efficient electrocatalysts for renewable energy-related processes have emerged as hot topics in the scientific community. This report introduces a valuable and facile way to make a palladium aerogel assembled by nanosheets. A three-dimensional (3D) palladium aerogel is assembled by reducing the palladium(II) acetylacetonate [Pd(acac)2] in the presence of cetyltrimethylammonium bromide and butyric acid, followed by supercritical drying conditions. On the basis of recorded analyses, the expansion and connection of nanosheets generate a beautiful 3D superstructure with a tremendous surface area and large open interconnected pores. The density and thickness of the nanosheets are estimated to be 0.018 g cm–3 and 2.78 nm, respectively. This 3D self-supported advanced electrocatalyst exhibits outstanding efficiency for catalyzing ethanol in direct ethanol fuel cells at 298 K. These exceptional results are due to the fantastic morphology of the aerogel. An inorganic superstructure with open interconnected pores significantly facilitates the accessibility of ethanol molecules to inner active sites. As such, the macroscale nature of the constructed nanoarchitecture will guarantee the interaction of ethanol molecules with the surface of a palladium aerogel. Furthermore, the self-supporting property of the constructed aerogel can help to greatly sustain the durability (relative to the Pd/C) due to the prevention of carbon corrosion.