Aluminum supported palladium nanoparticles: Preparation, characterization and application for formic acid electrooxidation

Palladium nanoparticles were fabricated on the aluminum electrode (Pd/Al) by electrodeposition method through a single step potential from an aqueous solution of 1 mM Pd(NH3)4Cl2. The electrochemical and physical characteristics of the Pd/Al were investigated by cyclic voltammetry, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) method. Electrochemical measurements in acidic solution indicate that Pd/Al exhibits significantly high electrochemical active surface area (18.32 cm2) with respect to Pd–Al (2.1 cm2) (electroless deposited) and bare Pd (0.28 cm2) electrodes. SEM images and XRD results show that the Pd particles are homogeneously deposited on the surface Al substrate in nanoparticles size between 30 and 50 nm with maximum Pd (111) plane at 2θ angles about of 39°. The Pd/Al was used as electrocatalyst for the oxidation of formic acid (FA) in 0.1 M H2SO4 solution. The cyclic voltammetry and chronoamperometry results show that the obtained electrocatalyst, Pd/Al, exhibits high catalytic activity and stability for the electrooxidation of FA. On the other hand, the Pd/Al electrocatalyst has higher catalytic activity for FA oxidation than the comparative Pd–Al and bare Pd electrodes and shows great potential as less expensive electrocatalyst for FA oxidation in direct formic acid fuel cells.

► Electrochemical fabrication of Pd nanoparticles on the aluminum electrode (Pd/Al).
► Electrochemical and physical characteristics of the Pd/Al electrocatalyst.
► Electrocatalytic oxidation of FA on the Pd/Al electrocatalyst.
► High stability and reproducibility of the Pd/Al electrocatalyst in oxidation of FA.