Supported Ni@Ni₂P Core–Shell Nanotube Arrays on Ni Foam for Hydrazine Electrooxidation

Abstract

Development of high-performance electrocatalysts requires a judicious selection of intrinsically highly active materials and smart structure engineering of electrodes to maximize active site density and to construct electronically conductive networks. Herein, we report the design and synthesis of supported Ni@Ni2P core–shell nanotube arrays (NTAs) on Ni foam (NF) as high-performance anode electrocatalysts of the direct hydrazine fuel cell (DHFC). The Ni@Ni2P NTA/NF catalyst is fabricated using a sacrificial template (ZnO) method followed by phosphatization treatment at elevated temperature. The thus-prepared catalyst exhibits unprecedented activity, good stability, and nearly 100% selectivity toward hydrazine electrooxidation following the four-electron pathway under an alkaline condition, outperforming the hydrazine electrooxidation catalysts hitherto reported. The impressive activity observed in this new catalyst would encourage future exploration of DHFCs as viable power sources for vehicular and portable applications.