Rapid fabrication of Cu/Pd nano/micro-particles porous-structured catalyst using hydrogen bubbles dynamic template and their enhanced catalytic performance for formic acid electrooxidation

In this work, a self-supporting Pd–Cu bimetallic film with 3D porous structure was electrodeposited at the surface of glassy carbon electrode (GCE) using a facile double-template fabrication process, including hydrogen bubble templating method and galvanic replacement reaction, and its performance investigated as a catalyst for formic acid oxidation (FAO). The structure of the Cu/Pd porous film was characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS). The electrocatalytic activity of the as-prepared catalysts with high surface areas were evaluated in sulfuric acid solution containing 1 M formic acid using cyclic voltammetry (CV), linear sweep voltammetry (LSV), chronoamperometry and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). The Cu/Pd porous structure exhibited significantly high current densities of formic acid oxidation compared to the Cu/Pd particles film catalyst. The effects of galvanic replacement time and concentration of formic acid on the catalytic activity of as-prepared electrode for FAO were comparatively investigated.