Super-hydrophilic and Expanded Graphite Foil as Support for Pd-Co electrodeposition: An Effective Catalyst for Glycerol Electrooxidation and HWE Application

Abstract

This work describes the impact of acid treatment on graphite foil (GF) electrodes, as well as a straightforward method to obtain electrocatalyst by electrodeposition on GF with a remarkably hydrophilic property. Pd-Co nanoparticles were electrodeposited on GF with (Pd-Co-EGF) and without (Pd-Co-GF) acid treatment. The results exhibit elevated wettability of GF after acid treatment due to oxidation by generating oxygen functional groups on its surface. These groups contribute to both the enhancement of the chemical adsorption of bimetallic Pd-Co nanoparticles and the electrooxidation of glycerol. Herein, the current density peak of the Pd-Co-EGF catalyst for electrooxidation of glycerol reaches 3414 mA mg^-1, surpassing that of the Pd-Co-GF catalyst with 1961 mA mg^-1 and commercial Pd/C with 359 mA mg^-1, providing an essential advance toward anode production for liquid fuel cells and hybrid water electrolysis.