The electrode morphology and surface energy controlling for formation of the ethanol fuel cells based on porous silicon formed by Pd-assisted etching

The evolution of macro- and mesoporous layers of porous silicon formed by Pd-assisted etching with different duration of formation and temperature of the etching solution from 25 to 75 °С, which have the property of ethanol electrooxidation, has been studied. High values of the dissolution rate of porous silicon at a temperature of 75 °С are shown, leading to a significant loss of thickness and specific surface area of the macro- and mesoporous layer, respectively. The obtained porous layers with different surface energy and surface area, show different rates of ethanol dehydrogenation and the number of dehydrogenated ethanol molecules, which allows you to control the activity of the electrode material for ethanol fuel cells.