Highly efficient electrocatalytic oxidation of glycerol by Pt-Pd/Cu trimetallic nanostructure electrocatalyst supported on nanoporous stainless steel electrode using galvanic replacement

• Electrodeposition of Cu and galvanic replacement by Pt and Pd, form the electrode.
• Higher catalytic activity of the Pt-Pd/Cu/NPSS catalyst for glycerol oxidation.
• The electrochemical measurements prove higher EASA for the catalyst.
• Pt-Pd/Cu/NPSS catalyst shows 4.2 higher current density compared with Pd/Cu/NPSS.

In this work, glycerol electrooxidation in alkaline solution, as an interesting fuel in fuel cells, was studied at a modified Cu filled nanoporous stainless steel (NPSS) electrode decorated by Pt and Pd (Pt-Pd/Cu/NPSS). Firstly, nanopores were fabricated on the surface of a stainless steel support (NPSS) by anodizing and then Cu was filled into the pores by electrodeposition (Cu/NPSS) using multiple step potential. The Cu/NPSS electrode was decorated with Pt and Pd using galvanic replacement method by immersion into a precursor solution containing Pt and Pd. The surface morphology and composition characterization of the prepared electrode indicate the formation of the Pt and Pd nanoparticles with an average diameter of about 45 nm. The electrochemical studies of the Pt-Pd/Cu/NPSS electrocatalyst revealed that the electrooxidation of glycerol in 1.0 M KOH solution in compare to Pd/Cu/NPSS and Pt/Cu/NPSS, gives higher current density (J) by a factor of 4.2 which occurs at a lower onset potential (Eonset = −0.54 V). It was found that the electrochemical active surface area (EASA) of the electrode in comparison with the Pd/Cu/NPSS and Pt/Cu/NPSS electrodes is more than 1.3 times and it was more resisting to the poisoning components. The proposed electrocatalyst demonstrates vastly superior electrocatalytic properties, indicating a great potential in direct alkaline alcohol fuel cells application.