Sonochemical Synthesis of PdAg/RGO Nanocomposite as an Efficient Electrocatalyst for Both Ethanol Oxidation and Oxygen Reduction Reaction with High CO Tolerance

Abstract

Controlled size of nanoparticles and rational tuning of the composition could precisely and effectively change the catalytic properties of Pd-based materials, enhancing the electrocatalytic performance and stability. In this article, we reported a rapid and facile synthesis of reduced graphene oxide (RGO) nanosheet-supported alloys of bimetallic PdAg nanoparticles, which were directly prepared by using simultaneous ultrasonic probe irradiation method. The as-synthesized alloys of nanoparticles exhibit excellent electrocatalytic activities for ethanol oxidation and oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) in alkaline medium, including high mass (3138 mA mg−1 Pd) and specific (1.26 mA cm−2) activity on the basis of Pd mass in ethanol oxidation reaction, high electron transferred number (3.94), larger kinetic current density (5.05 mA cm−2), excellent CO tolerance, and long-term stability and durability. The physicochemical and electrochemical characterization of as-prepared electrocatalyst materials was studied by using various tools, such as FE-SEM, HR-TEM, XRD, XPS, FT-IR, CV, CA, EIS, CO-stripping, and LSV-RDE. The developed electrocatalyst is expected to open up a novel class of anode and cathode materials with excellent durability and stability for direct ethanol fuel cell.