Synthesis, characterization and electrocatalytic studies of palladium–manganese oxyhydroxide nanocomposite towards direct ethylene glycol fuel cell

Abstract

The palladium nanoparticle grafted manganese oxyhydroxide nanorod (MON) electrocatalyst has been synthesized and tested for the electrooxidation of ethylene glycol (EG) in an alkaline medium. The MON was prepared using the hydrothermal method and the Pd nanoparticles were coated on the MON using an in situ reduction method. The nanocatalyst thus prepared was characterized by powder X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, high resolution transmission electron microscopy, energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy and electrochemical methods. The microscopic studies confirm the formation of MON and reveal that the Pd nanoparticles were grafted uniformly on the MON. In the voltammetric studies, the Pd/MON catalyst exhibited a six-fold improved peak current for ethylene glycol electrooxidation compared with the C/Pd. The EG electrooxidation reaction performances of the Pd/MON nanocatalyst in the alkaline solutions containing different quantities of EG were tested through cyclic voltammetry. The catalytic removal of the poisonous intermediates formed during electrooxidation of EG was explained. The present study shows that MON can act as an active support for the Pd nanocatalyst.