Rational Design of Novel Efficient Palladium Electrode Embellished 3D Hierarchical Graphene/Polyimide Foam for Hydrogen Peroxide Electroreduction

The electrocatalytic applications of traditional polyimide film and carbon nanomaterials are hindered due to a shortage of three-dimensional hierarchical conductivity and porous structure. Herein, a novel polyimide-based electrode based on a highly efficient palladium nanocatalyst embellished three-dimensional reduced graphene oxide/polyimide foam (Pd/3D RGO@PI foam, signed PRP) toward H2O2 electroreduction was designed and prepared through thermal foaming procedure, followed by facile dip-drying method and electrodeposition. As expected, such a binder-free, 3D hierarchical structure PRP electrode presented high catalytic property, good stability, as well as low activation energy toward H2O2 electroreduction during the electrochemical measurement period. The PRP electrode showed a reduction current density of 810 mA·cm–2 at −0.2 V (vs Ag/AgCl) in 2.0 mol·L–1 H2SO4 and 2.0 mol·L–1 H2O2. Moreover, the PRP electrode also illustrated good reproducibility and repeatability. Reproducibility presented almost 95.8% of the initial current density after 1000 cycles test. Also, the activation energy of H2O2 electroreduction on 3D PRP electrode was 21.624 kJ·mol–1. Benefiting from the 3D hierarchical structure and efficient catalyst, the PRP electrode exhibited excellent electrocatalytic performance and was considered to be a potential candidate material for fuel cells.