Exposing an Environmentally Friendly Gelation Strategy to Fabricate Modern Three-Dimensional M-Ag (M = Pt and Pd) Aerogels with Excellent Green Energy Generation

Developing high-performance electrocatalysts has becomea criticalchallenge in sustainable energy field. Compared with previous research,this contribution exposes a new insight and a fully green gelationstrategy to fabricate modern three-dimensional aerogels without surfactantsor reducing agents. The Pd-Ag and Pt-Ag aerogels arefabricated by inducing controlled anisotropic atmospheres betweenthe resulting NPs from irreversible spontaneous redox reactions followedby CO2 supercritical drying. Additionally, the kineticsand thermodynamic concepts relevant to the synthesis mechanisms aredeeply discussed. Based on analyses, two unique superstructures withenormous surface areas and many open interconnected tunnels are constructed.These advanced aerogels demonstrated encouraging efficiency for decomposingCH(3)CH(2)OH against Pd/C because of the followingreasons. The contact of CH3CH2OH molecules withthe outer and inner sites of aerogels is ensured due to their macroscopicnature. Interestingly, the self-supporting nature of modern superstructuresensures sustainability, as they do not have the drawbacks of carbon-basedcatalysts. Moreover, the presence of Ag as an oxophilic metal notonly alters the electronic properties (synergistic effects) of Ptand Pd but also facilitates the adsorption of OH-1 species on the electrocatalyst surface. Hence, this issue promotesthe decomposition of CH3CH2OH and effectivelyprevents poisoning by CO.