Enhanced electrochemical glucose oxidation in alkaline solution over indium decorated carbon supported palladium nanoparticles

Abstract

At present, carbon nanotube (CNT) supported In modified Pd catalysts are prepared at varying Pd:In ratios via NaBH4 reduction method to investigate the synergetic effect of Pd and In monometallic catalysts through glucose electrooxidation. These catalysts are characterized by advanced surface analytical techniques, namely, inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) with Agilent 7800 ICP-MS, N2 adsorption-desorption measurements (BET) with Micromeritics 3Flex equipment Tristar II 3020 equipped, PANalytical Empyrean device-ray diffractometer (XRD), Hitachi HighTech HT7700 high resolution-transmission electron microscope (HR-TEM), and scanning electron microscope (SEM). Electrochemical measurements are performed by using cyclic voltammetry (CV), chronoamperometry (CA), and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) by CHI660E potentiostat in a three electrode system. The characterization results show that all catalysts are successfully synthesized at desired molar composition. For PdIn (90:10)/CNT catalyst, the crystal size obtained from HR-TEM is 2.36 nm and BET surface area is 212.28 cm2g-1.5% PdIn(90:10)/CNT catalyst exhibits the best catalytic activity, lowest charge transfer resistance (Rct), and a long term stability compared to Pd, In, other Pd:In bimetallic catalysts. EIS and CA results are in a good agreement with CV results.