Design of PdxIr/g-C3N4 modified FTO to facilitate electricity generation and hydrogen evolution in alkaline media

Abstract In current work, the performance of PdxIr hybridized with g-C3N4 (PdxIr/g-C3N4) onto a fluorine-doped tin oxide (FTO) glass was investigated for alcohols oxidation reaction and hydrogen evolution reaction in alkaline media. The nanostructures were synthesized with convenient one-step solvothermal method and characterized with ICP-AES, EDX, XRD and TEM techniques. For comparison, Pd/g-C3N4 and Pt/C catalyst-coated FTO were also investigated. Higher current densities of 250 for methanol oxidation and 2570 mA mg−1 for glycerol oxidation and better stability in the presence of Pd3Ir/g-C3N4 compared to the other catalysts were proven by cyclic voltammetry and chronoamperometry. Electro-oxidation mechanism was investigated using linear sweep voltammetry method. Also, Pd3Ir/g-C3N4 showed the Tafel slope of 72 mV dec−1 and good stability in alkaline media which is comparable to that of other catalysts for hydrogen evolution reaction.