Methane activation at low temperature in an acidic electrolyte using PdAu/C,PdCu/C,and PdTiO2/C electrocatalysts for PEMFC

Pd/C, PdAu/C, PdCu/C, and PdTiO₂/C electrocatalysts were prepared by a sodium borohydride reduction process for methane activation at low temperatures in a PEMFC reactor. These electrocatalysts were characterized by XRD, TEM, XPS, ICP-MS, ATR-FTIR, and cyclic voltammetry. The diffractograms of Pd/C, PdAu(50:50)/C, PdCu(50:50)/C, and PdTiO₂(50:50)/C electrocatalysts showed peaks associated with Pd face-centered cubic structure. PdAu(50:50)/C showed a small shift in the peak center when it was compared to Pd/C, while PdCu(50:50)/C showed a shift to higher angles when it was also compared to Pd/C. This effect can be due to the formation of an alloy between Pd and Au, and Pd and Cu. By TEM experiments, a mean nanoparticle size was observed between 6.9 and 8.9 nm for all electrocatalysts. Cyclic voltammograms of Pd/C, PdAu/C, PdCu/C and PdTiO₂/C electrocatalysts showed an increase in current density values after the adsorption of methane The ATR-FTIR experiments showed for all electrocatalysts the formation of methanol and formic acidic. Polarization curves at 80 °C acquired in a PEMFC reactor showed that PdAu(50:50)/C and PdTiO₂(50:50)/C had superior performance when compared to Pd/C, indicating the beneficial effect of adding the co-catalyst; this behavior has been attributed to the bifunctional mechanism or electronic effect.

     

Methanol oxidation in acidic and alkaline electrolytes using PtRuIn/C electrocatalysts prepared by borohydride reduction process

PtRuIn/C electrocatalysts( 20% metal loading by weight) were prepared by sodium borohydride reduction process using H_2PtCl6·6H_2O,RuCl_3·xH_2O and InCl_3·xH_2O as metal sources,borohydride as reducing agent and Carbon Vulcan XC72 as support. The synthetized PtRuIn/C electrocatalysts were characterized by X-ray diffraction( XRD),energy dispersive analysis( EDX),transmission electron microscopy( TEM),cyclic voltammetry( CV),chronoamperommetry( CA) and polarization curves in alkaline and acidic electrolytes( single cell experiments). The XRD patterns showPtpeaks are attributed to the face-centered cubic( fcc) structure,and a shift of Pt( fcc) peaks indicates that Ru or In is incorporated into Ptlattice. TEMmicrographs showmetal nanoparticles with an average nanoparticle size between 2.7 and 3.5 nm. Methanol oxidation in acidic and alkaline electrolytes was investigated at room temperature,by CV and CA. PtRu/C( 50 ∶ 50) shows the highest activity among all electrocatalysts in study considering methanol oxidation for acidic and alkaline electrolyte. Polarization curves at 80 ℃ showPtRuIn/C( 50 ∶ 25 ∶ 25)with superior performance for methanol oxidation,when compared to Pt/C,PtIn/C and PtRu/C for both electrolytes. The best performance obtained by PtRuIn/C( 50 ∶ 25 ∶ 25) in real conditions could be associated with the increased kinetics reaction and/or with the occurrence simultaneously of the bifunctional mechanism and electronic effect resulting from the presence of Ptalloy.     

Nanostructured PdRu/C catalysts for formic acid oxidation

Pd and bimetallic PdRu nanoparticles supported on Vulcan XC-72 carbon prepared by the microwave-assisted polyol process are examined as electrocatalysts for the electrooxidation of formic acid. The catalysts are characterized by transmission electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction. The Pd and PdRu nanoparticles with sizes of <10 nm display the characteristic diffraction peaks of a Pd face-centered cubic (fcc) crystal structure. It is found that the addition of Ru to Pd/C can decrease the lattice parameter of Pd (fcc) crystal. The electrocatalytic activities of the catalysts are evaluated in sulfuric acid solution containing 1 M formic acid using linear sweeping voltammetry and chronoamperometry. The results show that Pd₅Ru₁/C displays the best electrocatalytic performance among all catalysts for formic acid electrooxidation.     

Performance of Pd Electrocatalyst Supported on a Physical Mixture Indium Tin Oxide–carbon for Glycerol Electro–oxidation in Alkaline Media

Palladium electrocatalysts, supported on Vulcan XC 72 carbon and indium tin oxide (ITO) with different ratios, were prepared by borohydride reduction method and analysed for glycerol electro‐oxidation application in the presence of KOH solution. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and X‐ray diffraction (XRD) techniques were used to characterize the particle size and crystal electrocatalyst structures, whereas their catalytic activities regarding the glycerol electro‐oxidation were evaluated by cyclic voltammetry (CV), chronoamperometry and tested in a direct alkaline glycerol fuel cell (DGFC) by electrochemical techniques. Micrographs results showed that the ITO presence promotes a large agglomeration of particles. Pd/C–ITO electrocatalysts showed peaks associated with the face‐centered cubic (fcc) structure of palladium and several others peaks associated with ITO used as support. Similar performance was found on all Pd/C–ITO electrocatalysts where measurements in CV were compared to Pd/C and Pd/ITO with Pd/C–ITO 50:50 chronoamperometry, presenting a better performance for glycerol electro‐oxidation. When using Pd/C–ITO 85:15 electrocatalyst and 1.0 mol L⁻¹ glycerol at 90 °C, the maximum power density found was 2,1 times higher than that obtained using Pd/C and Pd/CITO electrocatalysts. Therefore, the physical mixture of ITO and carbon, to be used as a support improves the electrocatalytic activity for glycerol oxidation reaction.     

Kinetics of low temperature CO oxidation over Pt/SnO2 catalyst

In a CO−O₂ stoichiometric mixture, the kinetic parameters, reaction order, rate constant and activation energy of CO oxidation over a Pt/SnO₂ catalyst have been measured using a fixed bed flow reactor near 0°C. The results show that it is a first-order reaction. The activation energy of CO oxidation over Pt/SnO₂ prepared with SnO₂ calcined at 300°C was approximately 21 kJ/mol. The activation energy of CO oxidation over Pt/SnO₂ changed slowly with SnO₂ calcination temperature above 400°C, and reached approximately 45 kJ/mol.     

Methane activation on PdMn/C-ITO electrocatalysts using a reactor-type PEMFC

Various palladium and manganese supported in a mix of carbon and indium thin oxide (PdMn/C-ITO) compositions were synthesized by a sodium borohydride reduction process for methane activation at low temperatures in a proton exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC) reactor. These electrocatalysts were characterized by X-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy XPS, inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry ICP-MS, attenuated total reflection-Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, cyclic voltammetry and a PEMFC reactor. The diffractograms of PdMn/C-ITO electrocatalysts revealed the face-centered cubic structure of palladium and the bixbyite cubic structure of In₂O₃. TEM experiments showed mean nanoparticle sizes between 4.7 and 5.2 nm for all electrocatalysts. XPS results showed the presence of palladium and manganese oxides, as well as Pd⁰ species. Cyclic voltammograms of PdMn/C-ITO electrocatalysts showed an increase in current density values after the methane adsorption, this result is related to formation of methanol or formic acidic. Polarization curves at 80 °C acquired in a PEMFC reactor showed that PdMn(70:30)/C-ITO and PdMn(50:50)/C-ITO have superior performance when compared to Pd/C-ITO indicating the beneficial effect of adding Mn, this behavior can be attributed to the bifunctional mechanism or to the electronic effect of support.

     

Anodic oxidation of formic acid on PdAuIr /C-Sb_2O_5·SnO_2 electrocatalysts prepared by borohydride reduction

PdAuIr/C-Sb2O5·SnO2electrocatalysts with Pd∶Au∶Ir molar ratios of 90∶5∶5,70∶20∶10 and 50∶45∶5 were prepared by borohydride reduction method.These electrocatalysts were characterized by EDX,X-ray diffraction,transmission electron microscopy and the catalytic activity toward formic acid electro-oxidation in acid medium investigated by cyclic voltammetry(CV),chroamperometry(CA)and tests on direct formic acid fuel cell(DFAFC)at 100℃.X-ray diffractograms of PdAuIr/C-Sb2O5·SnO2electrocatalysts showed the presence of Pd fcc phase,Pd-Au fcc alloys,carbon and ATO phases,while Ir phases were not observed.TEM micrographs and histograms indicated that the nanoparticles were not well dispersed on the support and some agglomerates.The cyclic voltammetry and chroamperometry studies showed that PdAuIr/C-Sb2O5·SnO2(50∶45∶5)had superior performance toward formic acid electro-oxidation at 25℃compared to PdAuIr/C-Sb2O5·SnO2(70∶20∶10),PdAuIr/C-Sb2O5·SnO2(90∶5∶5)and Pd/C-Sb2O5·SnO2electrocatalysts.The experiments in a single DFAFC also showed that all PdAuIr/C-Sb2O5·SnO2electrocatalysts exhibited higher performance for formic acid oxidation in comparison with Pd/C-Sb2O5·SnO2electrocatalysts,however PdAuIr/C-Sb2O5·SnO2(90∶5∶5)had superior performance.These results indicated that the addition of Au and Ir to Pd favor the electro-oxidation of formic acid,which could be attributed to the bifunctional mechanism(the presence of ATO,Au and Ir oxides species)associated to the electronic effect(Pd-Au fcc alloys).     

Effect of thermal treatment on phase composition and ethanol oxidation activity of a carbon supported Pt50Sn50 alloy catalyst

A carbon supported Pt–Sn electrocatalyst in the Pt/Sn atomic ratio 50:50 was prepared by the reduction of Pt and Sn precursors with formic acid and thermally treated at 200 °C (i.e., in the presence of solid tin) and 500 °C (in the presence of molten tin) in flowing hydrogen. In the absence of thermal treatment, X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis showed a solid solution of Sn in the face centered cubic (fcc) Pt and SnO₂. After thermal treatment, the formation of a main phase of hexagonal PtSn (niggliite) and a secondary phase of cubic Pt₃Sn was observed in the Pt50Sn50 catalyst. The relative amount of the PtSn phase increased with increasing thermal treatment temperature. The presence of molten tin gave rise to the formation of some big particles during annealing at 500 °C. The activity for the ethanol oxidation reaction (EOR) of the as-prepared catalyst was higher than that of both thermally treated catalysts and Pt75Sn25/C and Pt50Ru50/C by E-TEK. The higher activity for the EOR of the as-prepared Pt–Sn catalysts was ascribed to the presence of a large amount of SnO₂. Dedicated to Teresa Iwasita’s 65th birthday.     

Pd/C promoted by Au for 2-propanol electrooxidation in alkaline media

Pd/C catalysts promoted by Au are investigated as electrocatalysts for the direct 2-propanol fuel cells in alkaline media. The results show that Pd is a good electrocatalyst for 2-propanol oxidation and the activity for 2-propanol electrooxidation is higher than that for methanol electrooxidation on the Pd/C electrocatalysts in alkaline media. Addition of Au can significantly increase the palladium catalytic activity and stability for the 2-propanol oxidation. PdAu4:1/C has higher electrocatalytic activity and better stability for the electrooxidation of 2-propanol than Pd/C and E-TEK Pt/C electrocatalysts. The present study shows the promising properties of Au promoted Pd/C as effective electrocatalysts for 2-propanol fuel based direct alcohol fuel cells.     

Carbon-supported PdSn nanoparticles as catalysts for formic acid oxidation

Pd and PdSn nanoparticles supported on Vulcan XC-72 carbon are prepared by a microwave-assisted polyol process. The catalysts are characterized by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), linear sweeping voltammetry, and chronoamperometry. The results show that the Pd and PdSn nanoparticles, which are uniformly dispersed on carbon, are 2–10 nm in diameters. All Pd/C and PdSn/C catalysts display the characteristic diffraction peaks of a Pd face-centered cubic (fcc) crystal structure. It is found that the addition of Sn to Pd can increase the lattice parameter of Pd (fcc) crystal. The PdSn/C catalysts have higher electrocatalytic activity for formic acid oxidation than a comparative Pd/C catalyst and show great potential as less expensive electrocatalyst for formic acid electrooxidation in DFAFCs.     

Evaluation of Pt40Pd60/MWCNT electrocatalyst as ethylene glycol-tolerant oxygen reduction cathodes

Pt–Pd/MWCNT with Pt:Pd atomic ratio 40:60 and Pt/MWCNT electrocatalyst were synthesized and evaluated as oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) cathodes for Direct Ethylene Glycol Fuel Cells (DEGFC) applications. As reference, a commercial Pt/C material was also tested. We found that Pt–Pd/MWCNT has high tolerance capability to EG and higher selectivity for the ORR compared to the Pt-alone materials. As a result, the shift in onset potential for the ORR, E_onset, at Pt–Pd/MWCNT was considerably smaller than the shift at Pt/MWCNT or Pt/C. The average particle size (from XRD) was 3.5 and 4 nm for Pt/MWCNT and Pt–Pd/MWCNT, respectively. A moderate degree of alloying was determined for the Pt–Pd material. An advantageous application of Pt–Pd electrocatalysts should be in DEGFCs.     

Pt单层修饰Pd/C氧还原催化剂

分别利用液相热解法和浸渍还原法制备了碳载钯纳米催化剂（Pd/C）,并研究了其对氧还原反应的电催化活性。与浸渍还原法相比,液相热解法得到的Pd/C催化剂虽然粒径较大,但表现出较好的氧还原反应（ORR）活性和稳定性.在所制备的Pd/C催化剂基础上,通过置换欠电势沉积的Cu原子单层,获得了Pt单层修饰的Pd/C催化剂,其ORR活性较Pd/C催化剂有显著提高,且与纯Pt/C催化剂接近,而其耐久性则较纯Pt/C催化剂有显著提升,显示出Pt单层催化剂的潜在优势.     

Borohydride Reduction Method for PdIn/C Electrocatalysts Synthesis towards Glycerol Electrooxidation under Alkaline Condition

Pd−In/C electrocatalysts were synthesized by the adapted borohydride reduction method in different atomic ratios. Electrocatalysts were evaluated by conventional electrochemical techniques and direct glycerol fuel cells. X-ray diffraction profiles indicated the structure of Pd and In (fcc) phases, as well as the presence of In higher oxidation states. Regarding Transmission electron microscopy, it showed the particle‘s average diameters between 6.1–12.7 nm. All PdIn/C electrocatalysts showed high current values for −0.30 V vs. Ag/AgCl, which the best one was PdIn/C 90 : 10. Higher performance for glycerol oxidation was observed in polarization curves at 90 °C for PdIn/C (30 : 70) composition.     

Electrooxidation of 2-propanol on Pt, Pd and Au in alkaline medium

Pd and Au are investigated as electrocatalysts for 2-propanol oxidation and compared with the conventional catalyst of Pt in alkaline medium. The current density for 2-propanol oxidation on Pd electrode is much higher than that on Pt electrode. The onset potential for 2-propanol oxidation on Pd electrode is more negative compared with that on Pt electrode. The results show that Pd is a good electrocatalyst for 2-propanol oxidation and the activity for the electrooxidation of 2-propanol is higher than Pt and Au in alkaline medium. Pd has higher electrocatalytic activity and better stability for the electrooxidation of 2-propanol. The present study shows a promising choice of Pd as effective electrocatalyst for 2-propanol electrooxidation in alkaline medium.     

Stepwise synthesis, characterization, and electrochemical properties of ordered mesoporous carbons containing well-dispersed Pt nanoparticles using a functionalized template route

A stepwise method is described for the accurately controlled growth of Pt nanoparticles supported on ordered mesoporous carbons (Pt-OMC) by the nanocasting of carbon and metal precursors in the pore channels of mesoporous silicas functionalized with Si-H groups. Results obtained from N₂ adsorption/desorption isotherms and transmission electron microscopy showed well-dispersed Pt nanoparticles (2-3 nm) on Pt-OMC with high surface area (837 m² g⁻¹) and regular pore channels (2.9 nm), which facilitate reactant/product diffusion. X-ray diffraction and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy indicated that Pt nanoparticles in the Pt-OMC sample were mostly present in the metallic form of a face-centered cubic (fcc) crystalline structure. The Pt-OMC catalyst was found to have superior electrocatalytic properties during oxygen reduction reaction as compared to typical commercial electrocatalysts.     

Pt monolayer electrocatalysts for O2 reduction: PdCo/C substrate-induced activity in alkaline media

We measured the activity of electrocatalysts, comprising Pt monolayers deposited on PdCo/C substrates with several Pd/Co atomic ratios, in the oxygen reduction reaction in alkaline solutions. The PdCo/C substrates have a core-shell structure wherein the Pd atoms are segregated at the particle’s surface. The electrochemical measurements were carried out using an ultrathin film rotating disk-ring electrode. Electrocatalytic activity for the O₂ reduction evaluated from the Tafel plots or mass activities was higher for Pt monolayers on PdCo/C compared to Pt/C for all atomic Pd/Co ratios we used. We ascribed the enhanced activity of these Pt monolayers to a lowering of the bond strength of oxygenated intermediates on Pt atoms facilitated by changes in the 5d-band reactivity of Pt. Density functional theory calculations also revealed a decline in the strength of PtOH adsorption due to electronic interaction between the Pt and Pd atoms. We demonstrated that very active O₂ reduction electrocatalysts can be devised containing only a monolayer Pt and a very small amount of Pd alloyed with Co in the substrate. Dedicated to Professor Oleg Petrii on the occasion of his 70th birthday on August 24, 2007.     

One-step synthesis of carbon-supported Pd–Pt alloy electrocatalysts for methanol tolerant oxygen reduction

A facile, one-step reduction route was developed to synthesize Pd-rich carbon-supported Pd–Pt alloy electrocatalysts of different Pd/Pt atomic ratios. As-prepared Pd–Pt/C catalysts exhibit a single phase fcc structure and an expansion lattice parameter. Comparison of the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) on the Pd–Pt/C alloy catalysts indicates that the Pd₃Pt₁/C bimetallic catalyst exhibits the highest ORR activity among all the Pd–Pt alloy catalysts and shows a comparative ORR activity with the commercial Pt/C catalyst. Moreover, all the Pd–Pt alloy catalysts exhibited much higher methanol tolerance during the ORR than the commercial Pt/C catalyst. High methanol tolerance of the Pd–Pt alloy catalysts could be attributed to the weak adsorption of methanol induced by the composition effect, to the presence of Pd atoms and to the formation of Pd-based alloys.     

Pd/TiO2/C复合催化剂的制备及其在碱性溶液中对乙醇氧化的电催化性能

钛酸四丁酯前驱体水热合成制备纳米TiO₂颗粒,在TiO₂和Vulcan XC-72活性炭复合载体上液相还原负载Pd纳米颗粒,制得Pd/TiO₂/C复合催化剂. 通过透射电镜（TEM）和X射线衍射（XRD）测试表明其具有面心立方结构,Pd金属粒子（粒径约3 ~ 4 nm）均匀分散在锐钛矿型的纳米TiO₂和活性炭的复合载体上. 循环伏安和计时电流曲线测试表明,与相同Pd载量的Pd/C相比,20% Pd载量的Pd/TiO₂/C颗粒在常温常压下对乙醇的电催化氧化有很高活性和稳定性. 这主要归功于纳米TiO₂改变了Pd表面的电子特性,且增大了其比表面积.     

Methanol and ethanol electrooxidation on Pt and Pd supported on carbon microspheres in alkaline media

Noble metal (Pt, Pd) electrocatalysts supported on carbon microspheres (CMS) are used for methanol and ethanol oxidation in alkaline media. The results show that noble metal electrocatalysts supported on carbon microspheres give better performance than that supported on carbon black. It is well known that palladium is not a good electrocatalyst for methanol oxidation, but it shows excellently higher activity and better steady-state electrolysis than Pt for ethanol electrooxidation in alkaline media. The results show a synergistic effect by the interaction between Pd and carbon microspheres. The Pd supported on carbon microspheres in this paper possesses excellent electrocatalytic properties and may be of great potential in direct ethanol fuel cells.     

Au Nanoparticles Modified with Pt,Ru and SnO2 as Electrocatalysts for Ethanol Oxidation Reaction in Acids

The anodic reaction in direct ethanol fuel cells (DEFCs), ethanol oxidation reaction (EOR) faces challenges, such as incomplete electrooxidation of ethanol and high cost of the most efficient electrocatalyst, Pt in acidic media at low temperature. In this study, core‐shell electrocatalysts with an Au core and Pt‐based shell (Au@Pt) are developed. The Au core size and Pt shell thickness play an important role in the EOR activity. The Au size of 2.8 nm and one layer of Pt provide the most optimized performance, having 6 times higher peak current density in contrast to commercial Pt/C. SnO₂ as a support also enhances the EOR activity of Au@Pt by 1.73 times. Further modifying the Pt shell with Ru atoms achieve the highest EOR current density that is 15 and 2.5 times of Pt/C and Au@Pt. Our results suggest the importance of surface modification in rational design of advanced electrocatalysts.