Novel graphitic carbon nitride/graphite carbon/palladium nanocomposite as a high-performance electrocatalyst for the ethanol oxidation reaction

Graphitic carbon nitride (g-C3N4) possesses high nitrogen content with excellent chemical and thermal stability, which also shows inherent electrochemical properties. Due to the extremely low electronic conductivity, pure g-C3N4 is usually restricted to electrocatalytic applications. In this study, we report the synthesis of graphite carbon (GC) supported g-C3N4 and palladium (Pd) electrocatalyst with excellent electronic conductivity for the ethanol oxidation reaction. In virtue of the ultra-thin structure of g-C3N4 deposited on the surface of GC, the crucial three-phase boundary from GC, g-C3N4 and Pd component are successfully formed in [email protected]3N4/GC electrocatalyst. The electrocatalytic performances on ethanol electrooxidation of [email protected]3N4/GC, [email protected]3N4, [email protected] and [email protected] carbon (AC) have been systematically investigated by the techniques of cyclic voltammetry and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. The [email protected]3N4/GC displays the best electrocatalytic performances with a high oxidation peak current density of 2156 A/g Pd and low on-set potential of 0.32 V for the ethanol oxidation. The peak current density of [email protected]3N4/GC maintains at 1904 A/g Pd after 200 continuous cyclic voltammetry cycles. The [email protected]3N4/GC composite material might be one of candidate electrocatalysts for the ethanol oxidation reaction in direct ethanol fuel cells.