Promoted electrocatalytic performance of palladium nanoparticles using doped-NiO supporting materials toward ethanol electro-oxidation in alkaline media

Abstract

Electrocatalyst support materials play significant role in the performance, durability and commercialization of fuel cells. This research work describes the preparation of metal oxide (nickel oxide (NiO), cobalt (Co) and copper (Cu) doped NiO) support materials on meshed titanium (Ti) substrate via a simple electro-deposition method for their application as novel support material for palladium (Pd) catalyst. Field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) techniques are employed to study morphology, composition and structure of fabricated electrodes, respectively. The electrocatalytic performance of fabricated electrodes toward ethanol oxidation reaction (EOR) in alkaline solution is examined by the cyclic voltammetry (CV), chronoamperometry (CA) techniques. Low peak potential (−0.2 V), increased peak current density (62.54 mA cm−2) and large electrochemical active surface area (16.02 m2 g−1) were remarkable properties of Pd/Cu–NiO/Ti electrode. The results of other electrochemical measurements, CO-striping voltammetry, long-term stability and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) revealed that the Pd/Cu–NiO/Ti electrode has the privileged electrocatalytic performance for EOR relative to other prepared electrodes. Accordingly, the Pd/Cu–NiO/Ti can be considered as a hopeful electrode for ethanol electro-oxidation reaction in DEFCs.