Pd nanoparticles support on rGO-C@TiC coaxial nanowires as a novel 3D electrode for NaBH4 electrooxidation

Recently, direct borohydride fuel cell (DBFC) has been considering as a promising energy conversion devices. During the development of DBFC, reducing the use of noble metals and increasing the anode performance are the hot topic in recent researches. In this article, reduced graphene oxide nanosheets deposit on C@TiC coaxial nanowire array (rGO-C@TiC) by means of a combine method of chemical vapor deposition and electrodeposition is chosen as 3D current collector for Pd nanoparticles deposition. The morphology and crystal structure of the as-obtained 3D electrode is checked with FESEM, TEM, EDS, and XRD. Results claim that the as-prepared 3D electrode exhibits a mushroom-like structure with the mean diameter size of Pd is 5.32 nm. Their catalytic ability for NaBH4 electro-oxidation is evaluated in a three electrode system by using the method of cycle voltammetry and chronoamperometry, proving that the 3D Pd-rGO-C@TiC electrode has a higher catalytic performance. The oxidation current density of 1.35 A cm(-2) mg(pd)(-1) is achieved at-0.6 V. Furthermore, a direct borohydride-hydrogen peroxide fuel cell (DBHPFC) is assembled by using the as-prepared Pd-rGO-C@TiC electrode and a Pd/CFC electrode as anode and cathode catalyst, respectively, and a maximum power density of 68.5 mW cm(-2) is obtained. In addition, the assembled DBHPFC shows excellent higher performance based on the mass activity basis (1427.1 W g(-1)) among those reported literatures, indicating that our Pd-rGO-C@TiC could be acted as a promising cost-effective and ponderable alternative catalyst for NaBH4 electrooxidation. (C) 2016 Hydrogen Energy Publications LLC. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.