Electrochemical reduction of oxygen on palladium nanocubes in acid and alkaline solutions

The electrocatalytic properties of cubic palladium nanoparticles towards the electrochemical reduction of oxygen were studied in acid and alkaline solutions and compared with those of spherical nanoparticles and bulk Pd. The synthesised Pd nanoparticles were characterised by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and X-ray diffraction (XRD). Electrooxidation of pre-adsorbed CO was employed for cleaning the palladium catalyst surface. Oxygen reduction was studied using the rotating disk electrode (RDE) method and enhanced electrocatalytic activity of Pd nanocubes was revealed both in acid and alkaline solutions, which was attributed to the prevalence of Pd(1 0 0) facets. The mechanism of oxygen reduction on Pd nanoparticles was similar to that on bulk Pd, the first electron transfer being the rate-limiting step, and the reaction predominantly followed a four-electron pathway in both solutions.

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► Cubic Pd nanoparticles (26.9 ± 3.9 nm) were synthesised and electrochemically characterised.
► For comparison purposes the spherical Pd nanoparticles were also tested.
► A high electrocatalytic activity of Pd nanocubes for oxygen reduction is in evidence.
► The enhanced ORR activity of cubic PdNPs has been explained by their prevalent Pd(1 0 0) facets.