Three-dimensional porous superaerophobic nickel nanoflower electrodes for high-performance hydrazine oxidation

Finding inexpensive electrodes with high activity and stability is key to realize the practical application of fuel cells. Here, we report the fabrication of three-dimensional (3D) porous nickel nanoflower (3D-PNNF) electrodes via an in situ reduction method. The 3D-PNNF electrodes have a high surface area, show tight binding to the electroconductive substrate, and most importantly, have superaerophobic (bubble repellent) surfaces. Therefore, the electrocatalytic hydrazine oxidation performance of the 3D-PNNF electrodes was much higher than that of commercial Pt/C catalysts because of its ultra-weak gas-bubble adhesion and ultra-fast gas-bubble release. Furthermore, the 3D-PNNF electrodes showed ultra-high stability even under a high current density (260 mA/cm²), which makes it promising for practical applications. In addition, the construction of superaerophobic nanostructures could also be beneficial for other gas evolution processes (e.g., hydrogen evolution reaction). [Figure not available: see fulltext.]