Electroatalytic Activity of Palladium-Copper Nanostructures Supported on Graphene Oxide for Formic Acid Oxidation

Abstract

Low temperature fuel cell technology is set to occupy a central role in powering society in the near future. Several challenges emerge in the preparation of electrocatalysts to improve the operation, use and commercialization of fuel cells. Bi-metallic nanostructures are potential materials to use as electrocatalysts in this application. This research studies the electrocatalytic activity of palladium-copper nanostructures supported on graphene oxide as electrocatalysts for the formic acid oxidation reaction (FAOR). The Pd-Cu nanostructures were synthesized through the impregnation method using tetrachloropalladium acid and sodium borohydride. The Pd and Cu precursors were mixed in appropriate quantities to obtain Pd:Cu molar 1:1 ratios. The Pd-Cu nanostructures were characterized via X-rays diffraction, XRD, transmission, TEM, and scanning electron, SEM, microscopies. The electrocatalytic activity of the Pd-Cu nanostructures was evaluated for the FAOR. Figure 1 shows the cyclic voltammetries used to determine the electroactive area using the CO adsorption/desorption. The FAOR is shown in Figure 1B, where Pd-Cu is the electrocatalyst displaying the largest anodic current density as compared with Pd and commercial Pd. Figure 1