The fabrication of palladium hollow sphere array and application as highly active electrocatalysts for the direct oxidation of ethanol

SiO2 opals template was prepared on Au substrate with vertical deposition technique from highly monodispersed SiO2 particles. After that, Pd was electrodeposited on the SiO2 spheres to fabricate the Pd hollow sphere array after the removal of the SiO2 template with HF solution. The prepared Pd array had a highly ordered structure with huge surface area and exhibited excellent electrocatalytic activity, stability and anti-poison capability for ethanol electrooxidation in alkaline media, which showed that the Pd hollow sphere array could be used as effective electrocatalysts for direct alcohol fuel cells.

► Pd hollow sphere array was successfully prepared with sacrificial template method.
► Pd array exhibited excellent electrocatalytic activity for ethanol electrooxidation.
► Pd array might be used as effective electrocatalysts for direct alcohol fuel cells.