Electrocatalytic oxidation of ethylene glycol on palladium coated on 3D reduced graphene oxide aerogel paper in alkali media: Effects of carbon supports and hydrodynamic diffusion

To enhance Pd electro-catalysts in their electro-catalytic activity for C-C bond breaking and tolerance stability, Pd was electrodeposited on high-porosity 3D reduced graphene oxide (rGO) aerogel paper. For comparison, the Pd was also coated on other three different carbon material surfaces: bare carbon fiber paper (CFP), and CFP modified with either 2D graphene oxide (GO) and 2D rGO nanosheets. The Pd/3D rGO aerogel paper exhibits higher catalytic activity toward the electro-oxidation of ethylene glycol in alkaline media and higher excellent tolerance stability than other electrodes due to ultra-high porosity of the 3D rGO support leading to high active electrochemical surface area of the as-fabricated Pd catalyst electrode. In addition, the hydrodynamic diffusion of ethylene glycol to the cayalyst surface investigated in this work plays a major role to the catalytic activity of the as-prepared electrocatalyst. The Pd/3D rGO aerogel rotating disk electrode exhibits a high anodic current density of 267.8 mA cm −2 at 3000 rpm. This high-performance Pd/3D rGO aerogel may be practically used as the high-efficiency anode of direct ethylene glycol and other related alcohol fuel cells.