Improved kinetics of ethanol oxidation on Pd catalysts supported on tungsten carbides/carbon nanotubes

Pd nanoparticles on tungsten carbides modified multiwalled carbon nanotubes (Pd-WC/MWCNT) catalysts have been prepared by an intermittent microwave heating (IMH) technique for the first time. The Pd-WC/MWCNT catalysts are evaluated and show an improved kinetics for the ethanol oxidation. It is recognized that the significant increase in the catalytic activity for ethanol oxidation on Pd-WC/MWCNT is attributed to both the synergistic effect between Pd nanoparticles and the WC support and the structure effect of the MWCNT. This type catalyst can be universally used as the oxygen reduction catalyst in fuel cells and sensors both in alkaline and acidic solutions.