Ionic liquids-noncovalently functionalized multi-walled carbon nanotubes decorated with palladium nanoparticles: A promising electrocatalyst for ethanol electrooxidation. (27th July 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Li, Shuwen; Ma, Jianxin; Huo, Hongfei; Jin, Jun; Ma, Jiantai; Yang, Honglei
• Is Part Of: International journal of hydrogen energy. Volume 41:Number 28(2016)
• Page Start: 12358
• Page End: 12368
• Publication Date: 2016-07-27
• Subjects: Ionic liquids -- Noncovalently functionalized multi-walled carbon nanotubes -- Palladium nanoparticles -- Ethanol electrooxidation; Hydrogen as fuel -- Periodicals; Hydrogène (Combustible) -- Périodiques; Hydrogen as fuel; Periodicals; 665.81
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ijhydene.2016.06.039
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0360-3199

Abstract

Abstract: A new palladium-based electrocatalyst (Pd/PDIL-MWCNTs) with ionic liquids molecules derived from 3, 4, 9, 10-perylene tetracarboxylic acid (PDIL) noncovalently functionalized multi-walled carbon nanotubes (PDIL-MWCNTs) decorated with palladium nanoparticles is fabricated through a facile and surfactant-free synthetic technique. Due to the introduction of PDIL molecules, the Pd/PDIL-MWCNTs remarkably possesses smaller mean nanoparticles (NPs) size, better distribution of Pd NPs and larger electrochemical active surface area than the Pd NPs immobilized on the MWCNTs and the harsh acid treated MWCNTs (AO-MWCNTs). Furthermore, the Pd/PDIL-MWCNTs exhibits the enhanced electrocatalytic activity and improved stability for ethanol electrooxidation compared with Pd/MWCNTs and Pd/AO-MWCNTs, owing to the role of PDIL functional molecules. Additionally, a possible synergistic mechanism of PDIL-MWCNTs and Pd NPs for ethanol electrooxidation is also proposed on the basis of the previous literatures and the experimental results. The results indicate that the PDIL-MWCNTs is a promising support for electrocatalyst and the Pd/PDIL-MWCNTs catalyst may be a well candidate for direct ethanol alkaline fuel cells. Graphical abstract: Highlights: The Pd/PDIL-MWCNTs is fabricated through a facile surfactant-free synthetic technique. The Pd/PDIL-MWCNTs exhibits superior electrocatalytic performance for ethanol oxidation. A possible synergistic mechanism for ethanol electrooxidation was proposed. The Pd/PDIL-MWCNTs catalyst may be a well candidate for DEAFCs.