Abstract
SiO
2 opals template was prepared on Au substrate with vertical deposition technique from highly monodispersed SiO
2 particles. After that, Pd was electrodeposited on the SiO
2 spheres to fabricate the Pd hollow sphere array after the removal of the SiO
2 template with HF solution. The prepared Pd array had a highly ordered structure with huge surface area and exhibited excellent electrocatalytic activity, stability and anti-poison capability for ethanol electrooxidation in alkaline media, which showed that the Pd hollow sphere array could be used as effective electrocatalysts for direct alcohol fuel cells.
►Pd hollow sphere array was successfully prepared with sacrificial template method. ►Pd array exhibited excellent electrocatalytic activity for ethanol electrooxidation. ►Pd array might be used as effective electrocatalysts for direct alcohol fuel cells.