Palladium Adatoms on Gold Nanoparticles as Electrocatalysts for Ethanol Electro-Oxidation in Alkaline Solutions

Authors

Hui-mei CHEN, Department of Pharmaceutical Engineering, Zhejiang Pharmaceutical College, Ningbo 315100, Zhejiang, P.R. China;Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Clear Water Bay, Kowloon, Hong Kong 999077, P.R. China;Department of Chemical and Biochemical Engineering, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering,Xiamen University, Xiamen 361005, Fujian, P.R. China.;
Shang-qian ZHU, Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Clear Water Bay, Kowloon, Hong Kong 999077, P.R. China;
Jia-le HUANG, Department of Chemical and Biochemical Engineering, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering,Xiamen University, Xiamen 361005, Fujian, P.R. China.;
Min-hua SHAO, Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Clear Water Bay, Kowloon, Hong Kong 999077, P.R. China;Follow

Corresponding Author

Min-hua SHAO(kemshao@ust.hk)

Abstract

Palladium (Pd) is a good catalyst for ethanol electro-oxidation in alkaline solutions. The activity of Pd is further improved in this study by modifying the gold (Au) nanoparticles with Pd adatoms using a simple spontaneous deposition process. The Pd overlayer on the Au core (Au@Pd) is un-uniform with some Au atoms exposed to the electrolyte. The activity of Au@Pd/C toward ethanol oxidation reaction (EOR) is much higher than that of Pd/C in an alkaline solution. The peak current density of Au@Pd/C is 4.6 times higher than that of Pd/C with a 100 mV lower onset potential. The enhanced activity may be due to the electronic effect from the Au core, and the bifunctional reaction mechanism.

Graphical Abstract

Keywords

ethanol oxidation, core-shell, electrocatalysis, fuel cells, adatoms

DOI Link

https://doi.org/10.13208/j.electrochem.180841

Publication Date

2018-12-28

Online Available Date

2018-09-18

Revised Date

2018-09-05

Received Date

2018-08-27

Recommended Citation

Hui-mei CHEN, Shang-qian ZHU, Jia-le HUANG, Min-hua SHAO. Palladium Adatoms on Gold Nanoparticles as Electrocatalysts for Ethanol Electro-Oxidation in Alkaline Solutions[J]. Journal of Electrochemistry, 2018 , 24(6): 740-747.
DOI: 10.13208/j.electrochem.180841
Available at: https://jelectrochem.xmu.edu.cn/journal/vol24/iss6/15