Enhanced electrocatalytic hydrodechlorination of 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid by a Pd-Co₃O₄/Ni foam electrode

A new Pd-Co₃O₄/Ni foam electrode was synthesized by a facile two-step method comprising co-electrodeposition and calcination. Compared with Ni foam-supported Pd electrodes obtained by electrodeposition or chemical deposition, the new Pd-Co₃O₄/Ni foam electrode exhibited greatly enhanced catalytic hydrodechlorination activity. The introduction of Co₃O₄ reduced the amount of Pd required. For the same degree of dechlorination of 2,4-D, only 25% of the Pd was required in the Pd-Co₃O₄/Ni foam electrode compared with the Ni foam electrode prepared by chemical deposition. Various characterizations indicated that Co₃O₄ on the surface of the Ni foam enhanced catalytic performance through accelerated generation of atomic H*. In addition, the good distribution of macropores, providing a larger specific surface area and lower electron transfer impedance, enabled more adsorption of atomic .