Facile synthesis of PdSbx/C nanocatalyst with high performance for ethanol electro-oxidation in alkaline medium

•The PdSbx/C catalysts are prepared by a fast microwave treatment.•The average particle size of PdSb0.15/C (4.0 nm) is smaller than that of Pd/C catalyst (4.4 nm).•The ethanol oxidation current on PdSb0.15/C (3690 mA mg−1) is 1.71 times higher than that on Pd/C catalyst (2152 mA mg−1).•The onset potential of ethanol oxidation on PdSb0.15/C is about 40 mV lower than that on Pd/C.•The stability and anti-poisoning ability are greatly improved by the addition of Sb into Pd/C.

The PdSbx/C (x = 0, 0.5, 0.1, 0.15 and 0.2) nanocatalysts were synthesized by the microwave treatment. The structure and morphology of the as-prepared catalysts were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). It is found that the addition of antimony into the Pd/C catalyst leads to formation of PdSb alloy and reduction in particle size. The electrochemical measurements indicate that the PdSb0.15/C catalyst has high electrocatalytic activity and excellent anti-poisoning ability towards ethanol oxidation in alkaline medium. The onset potential of ethanol oxidation on PdSb0.15/C shifts in negative direction as compared with Pd/C. The mass activity of PdSb0.15/C for ethanol oxidation reaches 3690 mA mg−1 Pd, which is ca. 1.7 times higher than that of Pd/C. The enhanced performance of PdSb0.15/C is mainly ascribed to the bifunctional mechanism and electronic effect.

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