Pd supported on 3D graphene aerogel as potential electrocatalyst for alkaline direct methanol fuel cells

Abstract

Direct methanol fuel cells (DMFCs) have been shown potential interest in several portable electronics for “green” power generation, however their large-scale commercial production are mostly hampered due to the low activity and high cost of the anode catalysts. In the present study, we report a facile, environmentally friendly, and cost-effective Pd supported on 3D graphene aerogel (Pd/GA) by one step freeze-casting process. The as-synthesized Pd/GA was broadly characterized by XRD, Raman, SEM, and TEM. Morphology observations show that 3D-porous cellular structure of Pd/GA with uniform distribution of 10 nm Pd nanoparticles on the surface of graphene sheets. Based on structural merits, the performance of Pd/GA has been investigated as an anode catalyst for alkaline DMFCs. Pd/GA catalyst shows significantly superior electrocatalytic performance, abnormally high poison tolerance, and stability as compared to the conventional Pd/ carbon black (Vulcan XC-72R) with the same loading (∼20%) of Pd.The superior electrocatalytic performance of Pd/GA towards methanol oxidation can be used in practical application as a promising anode material for DMFCs.