Synthesis of High Pd-Loaded Pd/C Catalyst Using Ultrasonic Dispersions for the Direct Formic Acid Fuel Cells

Abstract

In order to synthesize the high Pd-loaded Pd/C for the direct formic acid fuel cell, the ultrasonication for the Pd precursor and carbon black before the chemical reduction was conducted. It was found that the ultrasonication should be conducted for the precursor and the carbon black mixture solution. Moreover, it was found that high FAOR activity could be obtained by the ultrasonication under appropriate condition, 45 kHz 45 min in this study. Based on these results, the Pd/Cs containing 50 wt% and 80 wt% of Pd could be successfully synthesized with slight decrease in the mass activity from the Pd/C containing 20 wt% of Pd by using ultrasonication, while they could not synthesized in the case of without ultrasonication. Based on these results, the ultrasonication under appropriate condition is effective to synthesis the high Pd –loaded catalyst.