Morphological impact onto organic fuel oxidation of nanostructured palladium synthesized via carbonyl chemical route

• Mass-depending morphology of nanostructured Pd was prepared via carbonyl chemical route.
• The morphological impact of nanostructured Pd on organic fuels oxidation was studied in half-cell.
• Nanowire-like Pd materials showed enhanced catalytic activity with respect to commercial Pd nanoparticles in half-cell.
• The μLFFC with anode coated by nanowire-like Pd catalyst showed improved performance commercial Pd/C anode.

Nanostructured palladium (Pd) supported on carbon (Vulcan XC-72) substrate, prepared via carbonyl chemical route, showed Pd-mass depending morphology, reflected on the surface electrochemistry via cyclic, CO-stripping voltammograms, and performance in direct formic acid and direct methanol micro laminar flow fuel cell arrangement. Comparison was done with commercial Pd/C (30 wt.%, ETEK) catalyst. The formic acid oxidation reaction (FAOR) studied in different acid media (0.1 M HClO4, 0.5 M H2SO4 and 0.5 M H3PO4), indicated an enhanced FAOR activity on nanowire-like as compared to nanoparticles and nanorods as well as the commercial one in each electrolyte. Besides, the nanowire-like Pd/C catalyst also favored methanol (MOR) in 0.1 M KOH. These facts confirm favorable morphological effect of nanowires for organic fuel oxidation in both acid and alkaline media.

Mass-depending morphology of nanostructured Pd, supported on carbon black (Vulcan XC-72), was observed from preparation via carbonyl chemical route. The morphological impact on catalytic activity was investigated in half-cell, toward fuel oxidation (e.g. formic acid, methanol and ethanol). As the nanowire-like Pd/C catalyst showed highest catalytic activity for fuel oxidation in half-cell, it was selected as anode in direct formic acid micro laminar flow fuel cell (DFμLFFC) and direct methanol micro laminar flow fuel cell (DMμLFFC).Figure optionsDownload as PowerPoint slide