Growth of copper nanocubes on graphene paper as free-standing electrodes for direct hydrazine fuel cells

• Main Authors: Gao, Hongcai, Wang, Yuxi, Xiao, Fei, Ching, Chi Bun, Duan, Hongwei
• Other Authors: School of Chemical and Biomedical Engineering
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: 2013
• Subjects: DRNTU::Engineering::Nanotechnology
• Online Access: https://hdl.handle.net/10356/99163; http://hdl.handle.net/10220/17170
• Institution: Nanyang Technological University

We have developed a new type of flexible electrodes based on Cu nanocube-decorated free-standing graphene paper (GP) using a facile electrodeposition method. The Cu nanocubes–graphene paper (Cu–GP) hybrid electrode processes remarkable electrocatalytic activity with an onset potential of −0.10 V toward hydrazine oxidation in alkaline solutions and can serve as the catalyst layer for direct hydrazine fuel cells. One interesting finding is that a copper hydroxide/oxide layer in situ formed on Cu nanocube surfaces plays an important role in enhancing the electrocatalytic activity and durability of the electrocatalyst. A totally irreversible and diffusion-controlled oxidation of hydrazine occurs on the electrocatalyst, eventually leading to environmentally friendly products such as nitrogen and water.