International Journal of Hydrogen Energy, Vol.38, No.33, 14232-14241, 2013
Electrocatalytic activity of the nanostructured Au-Co catalyst deposited onto titanium towards borohydride oxidation
The nanostructured gold-cobalt catalysts were deposited onto titanium surface via galvanic displacement technique. The electrocatalytic activity of the as-prepared nanostructured Au(Co)/Ti catalysts was examined in respect to the oxidation of BH4- ions in alkaline medium by using of the cyclic voltammetry and chrono-techniques. The nanostructured catalysts were prepared via galvanic displacement reactions between hierarchical Co thin films prepared by electroless deposition and a solution of HAuCl4. The surface morphology and composition of the samples were characterized using Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscopy, Energy Dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction. The prepared nanostructured Au(Co)/Ti catalysts exhibit an enhanced electrochemical activity towards the electro-oxidation of H-2 generated by catalytic sodium borohydride hydrolysis and oxidation of BH4- ions. Copyright (C) 2013, Hydrogen Energy Publications, LLC. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.