Palladium and Palladium Gold Catalysts Supported on MWCNTs for Electrooxidation of Formic Acid

Abstract

Novel multi‐wall carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) supported Pd–Au catalyst for electrooxidation of formic acid was prepared and compared with a similarly prepared Pd/MWCNTs and with a commercial Pt–Ru/Vulcan catalyst. The catalysts were prepared by a two‐stage polyol method, followed by H2–Ar annealing and were characterised by using X‐ray diffraction, FE‐TEM and EDX. Cyclic voltammetry (CV) was used to test their catalytic activity towards formic acid electrooxidation and accessible metal surface in the catalyst layer. In the case of the precursor of Pd–Au/MWCNTs catalyst (before H2–Ar annealing), subsequent deposition of Pd and Au led to a material of the core‐shell structure, catalytically inactive. Annealing of the core shell Pd–Au/MWCNTs precursor in H2–Ar resulted in the formation of the novel Pd–Au/MWCNTs catalyst. A highly dispersed Pd–Au solid solution (average XRD particle size 4.8 nm) is formed, and the novel catalyst is more active than the Pd/MWCNTs one. Both the Pd–Au/MWCNTs and the Pd/MWCNTs catalysts turned out to be more active than a commercial, highly dispersed Pt–Ru/Vulcan catalyst.

Recent Development of Pd-Based Electrocatalysts for Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cells

“…The Pd-Au/MWCNTs had higher current and lower onset potential for formic acid oxidation than Pd/MWCNTs. Chen et al [96] prepared multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) supported Pd-Au catalyst for oxidation of formic acid and compared with a similarly prepared Pd/MWCNTs and a commercial Pt-Ru/C catalyst. Both the Pd-Au/MWCNTs and the Pd/MWCNTs catalysts used were more active than that of a commercial Pt-Ru/C catalyst.…”

Studies of oxidized carbon nanotubes in temperature range RT–630°C by the infrared and electron spectroscopies

“…The fuel cell technology has become a project of high concern due to its crucial significance for practical utilization of hydrogen (or other biofuels) energy replacing carbon, oil and gas. The application of CNTs in fuel cell and hydrogen storage systems has been described elsewhere [5][6][7]. The fuel cells operate using hydrogen, methanol or formic acid, oxygen as reactants and produce electrical current, water and in some cases carbon dioxide, being the cleanest and the most efficient energy technology.…”

“…The fuel cells operate using hydrogen, methanol or formic acid, oxygen as reactants and produce electrical current, water and in some cases carbon dioxide, being the cleanest and the most efficient energy technology. The CNTs based catalysts were shown to perform more effectively than the carbon black supported [6][7][8][9]. Recently, the Pd-Au on MWCNTs has been shown to be an efficient catalyst of formic acid electrooxidation [6,7].…”

Carbon nanotubes and helical carbon nanofibers grown by chemical vapour deposition on C60 fullerene supported Pd nanoparticles

“…Pd nano particle decorated bamboo-like CNTs enable catalytic active materials in pH ranges where the nano particles usually would be oxidized and inactivated [27]. Fuel cells require highly active catalysts and Pd decorated CNTs show excellent ability as oxygen reduction agent [28,29] at a reduced cost compared to Pt-based techniques. The ferromagnetic free synthesis is also of interest for experiments of magnetic character such like NMR measurements [30].…”