Use of Pd–MnMoO4–graphene hybrids as efficient and CO poisoning tolerant electrocatalysts for methanol oxidation

Abstract

40 wt%Pd-x wt%MnMoO4/Graphene (GNS) (0 ≤ x ≤ 20) hybrids have been synthesized for use as efficient and CO poisoning tolerant anode materials in methanol fuel cells. Investigations revealed that the addition of MnMoO4 increases the electrocatalytic activity of the base electrode (40 wt%Pd/GNS) towards the methanol oxidation reaction (MOR) in 1 M KOH significantly. The catalytic activity of the electrode is found to be the greatest with 8 wt%MnMoO4. The addition of MnMoO4 also improves CO poisoning tolerance of the base electrode by 11–73%. The MOR activity and CO poisoning tolerance of the 40 wt%Pd-8 wt%MnMoO4/GNS hybrid electrode were superior to other electrodes of the investigation.