Development of Pd and Pd–Co catalysts supported on multi-walled carbon nanotubes for formic acid oxidation

✍ Scribed by D. Morales-Acosta; J. Ledesma-Garcia; Luis A. Godinez; H.G. Rodríguez; L. Álvarez-Contreras; L.G. Arriaga

• Publisher: Elsevier Science
• Year: 2010
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 566 KB
• Volume: 195
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 0378-7753
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jpowsour.2009.08.014

✦ Synopsis

Pd-Co and Pd catalysts were prepared by the impregnation synthesis method at low temperature on multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs). The nanotubes were synthesized by spray pyrolysis technique. Both catalysts were obtained with high homogeneous distribution and particle size around 4 nm. The morphology, composition and electrocatalytic properties were investigated by transmission electron microscopy, scanning electron microscopy-energy dispersive X-ray analysis, X-ray diffraction and electrochemical measurements, respectively. The electrocatalytic activity of Pd and PdCo/MWCNTs catalysts was investigated in terms of formic acid electrooxidation at low concentration in H 2 SO 4 aqueous solution. The results obtained from voltamperometric studies showed that the current density achieved with the PdCo/MWCNTs catalyst is 3 times higher than that reached with the Pd/MWCNTs catalyst. The onset potential for formic acid electrooxidation on PdCo/MWCNTs electrocatalyst showed a negative shift ca. 50 mV compared with Pd/MWCNTs.