Tailor‐Designed Porous Catalysts: Nickel‐Doped Cu/Cu2O Foams for Efficient Glycerol Electro‐Oxidation

Abstract Herein, Cu/Cu 2 O foams with dendritic‐like structures were electrodeposited atop a smooth Cu electrode by using a dynamic hydrogen bubbles technique, and they were used as efficient electrocatalysts for glycerol electrooxidation. The morphology, structure, and composition of the as‐prepared Cu/Cu 2 O foams were tuned by using additives (e. g. KCl and NiCl 2 ) in the copper deposition bath to maximize their electrocatalytic performance towards glycerol electrooxidation. The as‐synthesized Cu/Cu 2 O foams showed superior electrocatalytic activity towards the glycerol oxidation reaction, as demonstrated by the significant negative shift in the onset potential (ca. 400 mV) together with an oxidation current that is up to six times higher, compared to the Cu/Cu 2 O non‐porous film with the same loading. The performance of these foams was further improved by introducing optimum amounts of either Ni 2+ and/or Cl − ions. These additives resulted in a significant change in the structure and shape of the electrodeposited Cu/Cu 2 O textures with a concurrent increase in their roughness. Material and electrochemical characterization (e. g. SEM, XRD, XPS, LSV and CV) techniques were used to link the observed enhancements to the morphology, composition, and structure of the as‐synthesized Cu/Cu 2 O foam materials.