One-step electroless deposition of Pd/Pt bimetallic microstructures by galvanic replacement on copper substrate and investigation of its performance for the hydrogen evolution reaction

A facile and one-step method for fabrication of Pd/Pt bimetallic microstructure using galvanic replacement reaction is presented. This electroless deposition was performed without any additive reagent via simple immersion of the copper sheet in cation aqueous solution of Pd and Pt. The as-prepared electrode was characterized by using the techniques of scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS) and cyclic voltammetry and tested for the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) in the acidic media. Comparison of the HER on the Pd/Pt bimetallic catalysts with different Pd:Pt percentage compositions indicated that the Pd60Pt40 catalyst had the highest HER activity among all the Pd/Pt catalysts and a better performance than the pure Pt. The effects of galvanic replacement time and concentration of H2SO4 on the catalytic activity of as-prepared electrode for HER were comparatively investigated.

► One-step synthesis of the Pd/Pt microstructure by galvanic replacement on Cu substrate.
► Electrocatalytic reduction of hydrogen on the Pd/Pt microstructure.
► Observation of the highest HER catalytic activity for the Pd60Pt40 catalyst.