The effective bimetallic component of Pd–Au/C for electrochemical oxidation of borohydrides

The coulombic efficiencies of Pd–Au/C catalysts for the electrochemical oxidation of borohydrides were measured and the impregnated states of Pd–Au were characterized by XRD and XPS to find their relevance to the catalytic performances of the catalysts. The Pd–Au/C (metal wt.% = 20%) catalysts showed coulombic efficiencies of 50–70% under the given galvanostatic conditions, with maintaining a current density close to 20% Pd/C at voltammetric test, which is thought to be related to the mixed state of monometallic Au and Pd–Au alloy on the carbon support.