Efficient electro-catalytic oxidation of ethylene glycol using flower-like graphitic carbon nitride/iron oxide/palladium nanocomposite for fuel cell application

Abstract

The design and development of highly efficient and environmental-friendly methods for the synthesis of electro-catalysts are highly significant for fuel cell applications. Herein, we demonstrate a facile technique for the synthesis of graphitic carbon nitride/iron oxide/palladium nanoparticles (g-C3N4/Fe2O3/PdNPs) composite towards efficient electro-catalytic oxidation of ethylene glycol. g-C3N4/Fe2O3/PdNPs nanocomposite was prepared using a one-step simultaneous electrochemical co-deposition process. The electro-deposition was performed on a single-disk carbon screen-printed electrode (SPE) under acidic electrolyte solution containing g-C3N4 nanosheets, Fe2O3 nanoparticles, and palladium chloride as precursors. The structural and elemental composition of the electrochemically fabricated g-C3N4/Fe2O3/PdNPs nanocomposites modified SPE was investigated using fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, field-emission scanning electron microscopy, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy techniques and the results indicated that three-dimensional nanoflower-like Fe2O3 and spherical shaped PdNPs were electro-deposited on the g-C3N4 nanosheets to form the nanocomposite. The voltammetric behavior of the developed g-C3N4/Fe2O3/PdNPs/SPE showed excellent electro-catalytic response towards ethylene glycol and superior electro-oxidation with high durability when compared to commercial Pd/C and other recently reported electro-catalyst materials. Therefore, the proposed g-C3N4/Fe2O3/PdNPs nanocomposite is proved to be an efficient electro-catalyst and can be highly suitable for direct alcohol fuel cell applications.