A new silicon-based anode suitable for direct ethanol fuel cells (DEFCs) is described. Pd–Ni nanoparticles are coated on Si nanowires (SiNWs) by electroless co-plating to form the catalytic materials. The electrocatalytic properties of the SiNWs and ethanol oxidation on the Pd–Ni catalyst (Pd–Ni/SiNWs) are investigated electrochemically. The effects of temperature and working potential limit in the anodic direction on ethanol oxidation are studied by cyclic voltammetry. The Pd–Ni/SiNWs electrode exhibits higher electrocatalytic activity and better long-term stability in an alkaline solution. It also yields a larger current density and negative onset potential thus boding well for its application to fuel cells.

Efficient electrocatalysts are crucial to water splitting for renewable energy generation. In this work, electrocatalytic hydrogen evolution from Pd nanoparticle-modified graphene nanosheets loaded on ZnO nanowires on nickel foam was studied in an alkaline electrolyte. The high electron mobility stems from the cylindrical ZnO nanowires and the rough surface on the graphene/ZnO nanowires increases the specific surface area and electrical conductivity. The catalytic activity arising from adsorption and desorption of intermediate hydrogen atoms by Pd nanoparticles improves the hydrogen evolution reaction efficiency. As a hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) catalyst, the Pd/graphene/ZnO/Ni foam (Pd/G/ZnO/NF) nanocomposite exhibits good stability and superior electrocatalytic activity. Linear sweep voltammetry (LSV) revealed an overpotential of −31 mV and Tafel slope of 46.5 mV dec⁻¹ in 1 M KOH. The economical, high-performance, and environmentally friendly materials have excellent prospects in hydrogen storage and hydrogen production.