Pd electrocatalyst supported on carbonized TiO2 nanotube for ethanol oxidation

Pd electrocatalysts supported on carbonized TiO2 nanotube (Pd/TiO2C) have been prepared and used for the oxidation of ethanol in alkaline media. The conducting treatment of TiO2 nanotube is performed by the carbonization using the organic polymer. The as-prepared Pd/TiO2C electrocatalyst shows a higher surface area from the morphology observation and electrochemical measurement compared to Pd/C electrocatalyst at the same loadings of Pd. It is found that the Pd/TiO2C electrocatalyst with the 1:1 mass ratio of Pd to TiO2C gives best performance for ethanol oxidation in alkaline media. The results prove that the Pd/TiO2C electrocatalyst is not only superior in activity for ethanol oxidation but also more stable during the constant current density polarization in alkaline media in comparison with Pd/C electrocatalyst.