Hierarchical Layered Double Hydroxide Microspheres with Largely Enhanced Performance for Ethanol Electrooxidation

Abstract

Abstract Hierarchical MgFe‐layered double hydroxide (LDH) microspheres with tunable interior structure are synthesized by a facile and cost‐effective surfactant‐templated method. Scanning and transmission electron microscopy images reveal that the obtained microspheres display a three‐dimensional architecture with hollow, yolk−shell and solid interior structure, respectively, with continuous changes in specific surface area and pore‐size distribution. Moreover, the hollow MgFe‐LDH microspheres exhibit excellent electrocatalytic oxidation of ethanol in alkaline fuel cell, including high activity, long‐term durability and cycling stability, owing to the significantly improved faradaic redox reaction and mass transport. Therefore, this work provides a promising approach for the design and synthesis of structure tunable materials with largely enhanced ethanol electrooxidation behavior, which can be potentially used in noble metal‐free alkaline fuel cells.