Preparation of highly dispersed and ultrafine Pd/C catalyst and its electrocatalytic performance for hydrazine electrooxidation

The highly dispersed and ultrafine carbon supported Pd nanoparticles (Pd/C) catalyst was synthesized by NaBH4 reduction method in the presence of ethylenediamine-tetramethylene phosphonic acid (EDTMP) ligand. The formation of the ultrafine Pd nanoparticles can be attributed to the avoidance of Pd(OH)2 precipitation and the decrease in the reduction potential of PdII species in EDTMP–PdII complex during the preparation of Pd/C catalyst. Electrochemical measurements indicated the resulting Pd/C catalyst possessed a significant electrocatalytic performance for hydrazine oxidation under the strong acidic conditions, indicating that the Pd/C catalyst has potential application in fabrication of acidic direct hydrazine fuel cell.

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► The addition of ethylenediamine–tetramethylene phosphonic acid (EDTMP) can decrease significantly the reduction potential of PdII species and directly translate PdII species in EDTMP–PdII complex into Pd0 in the presence of NaBH4.
► Spherical Pd nanoparticles are highly dispersed on the carbon support in the presence of EDTMP.
► Electrochemical measurements indicated the resulting Pd/C catalyst possessed a significant electrocatalytic effect for hydrazine oxidation under the strong acidic conditions.