Palladium nanoparticles combined with reduced graphene oxide and multiwall carbon nanotubes for alkaline ascorbic acid oxidation

Abstract

Ascorbic acid (vitamin C) is recognized as a viable alternative fuel for alkaline direct liquid fuel cells (DLFCs). After the potential anode catalyst was prepared by incorporating palladium nanoparticles (Pd NPs) into reduced graphene oxide (rGO) and multiwall carbon nanotube (MWCNT) hybrid nanocomposite (Pd/rGO/MWCNT) through a chemical reduction method, it was applied for electrooxidation of ascorbic acid (AA) in the alkaline condition. For AA electrooxidation, the Pd/rGO/MWCNT modified glassy carbon electrode (Pd/rGO/MWCNT/GCE) exhibited the highest current density of 5.18 mA cm-2: much higher than a bare glassy carbon electrode (0.6 mA cm-2). The Pd/rGO/MWCNT/GCE also demonstrated excellent stability for AA oxidation in the alkaline condition.