Palladium-based nanocatalysts anchored on CNT with high activity and durability for ethanol electro-oxidation

Abstract The excellent catalyst need to meet low cost, long-time stability and high electrocatalytic activity in direct ethanol fuel cells (DEFC). Here, carbon nanotube-supported Pd-based (Pd/CNT, PdSn/CNT, PdNi/CNT and PdSnNi/CNT) catalysts were synthesized by microwave-assisted polyols and in-situ reduction. Compared with commercial Pd/C (JM), the as-prepared Pd-based catalysts have higher electrocatalytic activity and outstanding long-time durability toward ethanol electro-oxidation reaction in alkaline media. The enhanced electrocatalytic activity of Pd-based catalysts are owning to high electrochemically active surface area (ECSA) and modified electronic structure of Pd. After chronoamperometric test, the current densities of Pd-based catalysts can be reactivated by simple cycle potential scan in 1 M NaOH, which indicated that all of them have excellent resistance to CO poisoning.