Electrocatalytic Performance of Palladium Nanoparticle Supported by Two-dimensional Titanium Carbide-CNT Composites

Abstract

To improve the layer spacing and the electrocatalytic performance of Ti 3 C 2 , the carbon nanotubes (CNTs) was utilized to tailor the microstructure. Layered Ti 3 C 2 , obtained by etching Ti 3 AlC 2 with HF, hydroxylated carbon nanotubes (CNTs) and potassium tetrachloropalladate (K 2 PdCl 4) were used to synthesize Pd naoparticles supported on Ti 3 C 2-CNT (Pd/Ti 3 C 2-CNT) catalyst through ultrasonic dispersion and solvothermal method. XRD, FE-SEM and XPS were adopted to investigate the effect of CNT on the microstructural tailoring of Ti 3 C 2 interlayers. The electrocatalytic performance of Pd/ Ti 3 C 2-CNT catalysts for both formic acid and methanol in acidic and alkaline solutions, were investigated by cyclic voltammetry, chronoamperometry, and AC impedance spectroscopy, respectively. The results validated that the intercalation of CNTs into Ti 3 C 2 interlayers, whose "bridge" effects benefit the electron transportation in the catalysts, and thus the electrocatalytic performance of Pd/Ti 3 C 2-CNT was elevated.