Electrocatalytic activity of the nanostructured Au–Co catalyst deposited onto titanium towards borohydride oxidation

• Published in: International journal of hydrogen energy 2013-11, Vol.38 (33), p.14232-14241
• Main Authors: Tamašauskaitė-Tamašiūnaitė, L., Jagminienė, A., Balčiūnaitė, A., Zabielaitė, A., Žielienė, A., Naruškevičius, L., Vaičiūnienė, J., Selskis, A., Juškėnas, R., Norkus, E.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Alternative fuels. Production and utilization; Applied sciences; Borohydride oxidation; Borohydrides; Catalysts; Cobalt; Deposition; Displacement; Energy; Exact sciences and technology; Fuels; Galvanic displacement; Gold; Hydrogen; Nanostructure; Oxidation; Surface chemistry; Titanium
• ISSN: 0360-3199; 1879-3487
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ijhydene.2013.08.101

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 H2 generated by catalytic sodium borohydride hydrolysis and oxidation of BH4− ions. •Deposition of Au–Co catalysts on Ti via electroless Co and galvanic displaced Au.•Characterization of the catalysts obtained by means of FESEM, EDAX, XRD and ICP-OES.•Enhanced activity of Au(Co)/Ti catalysts towards the oxidation of H2 and BH4− ions.•The long-term CVs show deactivation of Au(Co)/Ti catalysts.