Silver nanofoams were obtained via electrodeposition from acidic aqueous electrolytes at high current densities. The nanofoams exhibited superior electrocatalytic activity toward reductive debromination of organic halides compared to a smooth silver electrode.
Variation of electrodeposition conditions influenced the sizes of both micro- and nanosized structural elements of the nanofoam, but led only to limited changes in the electrocatalytic performance. Formation of active centers facilitating the debromination on the facets of silver nanocrystals forming the nanofoam was hypothesized.
Less than 1 mg of the nanofoam performed comparably to 500 mg of silver wire in the debromination of 1-fluoro-4-bromobenzene.