A Pd/PW12/RGO Composite Catalyst Prepared by Electro-Codeposition for Formic Acid Electro-Oxidation. Issue 2 (1st January 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Zhang, Xiaofeng; Wang, Xiaoying; Le, Lijuan; Ma, Ai; Lin, Shen
• Is Part Of: Journal of the Electrochemical Society. Volume 163:Issue 2(2016)
• Page Start: F71
• Page End: F78
• Publication Date: 2016-01-01
• Subjects: electrodeposition -- formic acid electrooxidation -- Pd -- polyoxometalates -- reduced graphene oxide; Electrochemistry -- Periodicals; 541.3705
• DOI: 10.1149/2.0401602jes
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0013-4651

Abstract

Abstract : A highly active Pd based catalyst for direct formic acid fuel cells (DFAFCs), Pd/Na3 PW12 O40 (PW12 )/reduced graphene oxide (RGO), was prepared by a facile and green preparation strategy based on electrochemical-codeposition. The composite was investigated by SEM, TEM, XPS, Raman spectroscopy and XRD. The GO and PdCl4 2− can be reduced simultaneously and the mass of Pd is measured to be ca. 18.7 μg for Pd/PW12 /RGO composite. The PW12 can facilitate the deposition of more uniform and smaller Pd nanoparticles. Notably, the Pd/PW12 /RGO catalyst exhibits higher specific activity ranging from 0.15 V to 0.30 V toward formic acid electro-oxidation as compared with the Pd/RGO and Pd/C catalyst. The specific activity for Pd/PW12 /RGO catalyst (5.98 mA cm −2 Pd at 0.2 V vs. Ag/AgCl) is enhanced by a factor of 2.4 in comparison with Pd/RGO catalyst (2.49 mA cm −2 Pd at 0.2 V vs. Ag/AgCl). Moreover, Pd/PW12 /RGO catalyst displays an improved stability for formic acid electro-oxidation and a better tolerance toward CO poisoning than Pd/RGO and Pd/C catalyst. The enhanced performance of Pd/PW12 /RGO catalyst can be contributed to the synergistic effect of better dispersion of Pd nanoparticles, and high protonic conductivity and superior oxidation power of PW12 .