Biobased carbon-supported palladium electrocatalysts for borohydride fuel cells. (6th July 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Martins, Marta; Šljukić, Biljana; Sequeira, César A.C.; Metin, Önder; Erdem, Mehmet; Sener, Tansel; Santos, Diogo M.F.
• Is Part Of: International journal of hydrogen energy. Volume 41:Number 25(2016)
• Page Start: 10914
• Page End: 10922
• Publication Date: 2016-07-06
• Subjects: Palladium nanoparticles -- Biobased carbon support -- Oxygen reduction reaction -- Borohydride oxidation reaction -- Rotating ring-disk electrode; BOR borohydride oxidation reaction -- CA chronoamperometry -- CV cyclic voltammetry -- DBFC direct borohydride fuel cell -- ECSA electrochemical surface area -- fcc face centered cubic -- GC glassy carbon -- GSAC grape stalk activated carbon -- K–L Koutecky–Levich -- LSV linear scan voltammetry -- N collection efficiency -- NP nanoparticle -- OAm oleylamine -- OCP open circuit potential -- ORR oxygen reduction reaction -- RDE rotating disk electrode -- RHE reversible hydrogen electrode -- RRDE rotating ring-disk electrode -- SHE standard hydrogen electrode -- TEM transmission electron microscopy -- VSAC vine shoots activated carbon -- Vul Vulcan XC72 -- XRD X-ray diffraction; Hydrogen as fuel -- Periodicals; Hydrogène (Combustible) -- Périodiques; Hydrogen as fuel; Periodicals; 665.81
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ijhydene.2016.04.039
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0360-3199

Abstract

Abstract: Designing highly active and cost-effective electrocatalysts is essential for accelerating commercialization of fuel cell technology. In this work, oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) and borohydride oxidation reaction (BOR) are both investigated on monodisperse palladium nanoparticles (Pd NPs) supported on Vulcan XC72 as well as on two prepared carbon materials obtained from different biosources, namely grape stalk activated carbon (GSAC) and vine shoots activated carbon (VSAC). The electrocatalysts are characterized using TEM and XRD and their activity for ORR and BOR in alkaline media is studied using linear scan voltammetry with rotating ring-disk electrode. ORR and BOR onset potentials and number of exchanged electrons reveal significantly higher activity of the Pd NPs supported on biobased carbons compared to the one supported on Vulcan XC72. Pd/GSAC shows good activity towards direct 4-electron ORR, whereas Pd/VSAC electrocatalyst has improved performance for BOR. Namely, number of exchanged electrons in ORR at Pd/GSAC and Pd/VSAC was evaluated to be approximately 4 and 2, respectively. Conversely, number of exchanged electrons in BOR was found to be 2.0 and 5.6 for Pd/GSAC and Pd/VSAC, respectively. Graphical abstract: Palladium nanoparticles anchored on carbon supports from two biosources, grape stalk and vine shoots, show high activity for ORR and BOR. Highlights: Activated carbons prepared from grape stalk and vine shoots used as catalysts support. O2 electroreduction and BH 4 − electrooxidation at Pd/C evaluated in alkaline media. Pd/GSAC and Pd/VSAC show good electrocatalytic activity for ORR and BOR, respectively.