Electro-Catalytic Properties of Palladium and Palladium Alloy Electro-Catalysts Supported on Carbon Nanofibers for Electro-Oxidation of Methanol and Ethanol in Alkaline Medium

Carbon nanofibers (CNFs) supported by Pd and Pd-Sn electro-catalysts were prepared the chemical reduction method using ethylene glycol as reducing agent. Their physicochemical characteristics studied high resolution-transmission electron microscopy (HR-TEM), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), photoelectron (XPS), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) Bruanaer-Emmett-Teller (BET) analysis. FTIR revealed that oxygen, hydroxyl, carboxylic carbonyl functional groups facilitated dispersion of Sn nanoparticles. The doping with to generate PdSn alloy was also confirmed XPS data. amorphous nature CNFs XRD patterns which exhibited peaks. When added Pd/CNFs, peaks moved lower angles. HRTEM images cylindrical shape-like morphology nanoparticles dispersed on carbon support. catalytic activity stability towards alcohol electro-oxidation in alkaline medium at room temperature evaluated cyclic voltammetry (CV), chronoamperometry (CA) electrochemical impedance (EIS). obtained Pd-Sn/CNFs electro-catalyst a better electro-catalytic than Pd/CNFs Pd/C for both methanol ethanol oxidation. improvement performance associated synergistic effect via addition modified atom arrangement, thereby promoting oxidation through dehydrogenation pathway. Furthermore, SnO2 generates abundant OH species helps increasing rate oxidative removal monoxide (CO) intermediates from sites.