The size-controlled synthesis of Pd/C catalysts by different solvents for formic acidelectrooxidation

Abstract

The size-controlled synthesis of Pd/C catalyst for formic acid electrooxidation isreported in this study. By using alcohol solvents with different chain length in theimpregnation method, the sizes of Pd nanoparticles can be facilely tuned; thisis attributed to the different viscosities of the solvents. The results show thata desired Pd/C catalyst with an average size of about 3 nm and a narrow sizedistribution is obtained when the solvent is n-butanol. The catalyst exhibits largeelectrochemically active surface area and high catalytic activity for formic acidelectrooxidation.