Abstract
The preparation of metal nanoparticles (Pd, Ni, Sn) supported on sulfonated multi-walled carbon nanotubes (SF-MWCNTs) using a very rapid microwave-assisted solvothermal strategy has been described. Electrocatalytic behaviour of the SF-MWCNT-Pd and its ‘mixed’ bimetallic electrocatalysts (i.e., SF-MWCNT-PdSn mix and SF-MWCNT-PdNi mix) towards ethanol oxidation in alkaline medium was investigated. The result shows that the mixed Pd-based catalysts (obtained by simple ultrasonic-mixing of the individual MWCNT-metal nanocomposites) gave better electrocatalytic activity than their alloy nanoparticles (obtained by co-reduction of metal salts) or Pd alone. The SF-MWCNT platform gave better electrocatalytic performance compared to the unsulfonated and commercial Vulcan carbons. Detailed electrochemical studies (involving cyclic voltammetry, chronoamperometry, chronopotentiometry, and impedance spectroscopy) prove that the electrocatalytic oxidation of ethanol at the SF-MWCNT-PdNi mix platform is more stable, occurs at lower potential, gives lower Tafel slopes, with faster charge-transfer kinetics compared to its SF-MWCNT-PdSn mix counterpart. Also, result revealed that SF-MWCNT-PdNi mix is more tolerant to CO poisoning than the SF-MWCNT-PdSn mix. The results provide some important insights into the electrochemical response of microwave-synthesised Pd-based bimetallic catalysts for potential application in direct ethanol alkaline fuel cell technology.
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