Electrocatalytic dechlorination of chloroacetic acids on silver nanodendrites electrode

•Well-defined silver nanodendrites were synthesized by electrodeposition.•The electrocatalytic dechlorination of chloroacetic acids was studied.•Electrocatalytic hydrogenolysis mechanism is the main pathway.

Silver nanodendrites were successfully prepared by electrodeposition on the glassy carbon electrode. The effects of synthesis parameters such as concentrations of reagents and applied potentials on the morphology and structure of silver nanodendrites have been investigated. Electrochemical experiments showed that silver nanodendrites electrode had extraordinary electrocatalytic activity toward the dechlorination of chloroacetic acids. The electrocatalytic hydrogenolysis mechanism was the main pathway for the dechlorination of chloroacetic acids.