Bimetallic PdCo and PdFe electrocatalysts for the electrochemical oxidation of formica acid

Pd, PdCo and PdFe catalysts were prepared by the impregnation method, using sodium borohydride (NaBH4) as the reducing agent and a commercial carbon material (Vulcan XC-72R) as support. The synthesized electrocatalysts were tested for the formic acid oxidation reaction (FAOR) in acid medium (H2SO4 0.5 M). The morphology, composition and particle size of the electrocatalysts were characterized by physicochemical techniques as X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy with energy dispersive spectroscopy (SEM-EDS) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The catalytic activity was evaluated by cyclic voltammetry (CV) and chronoamperometry techniques (CA)