Reduced\nGraphene Oxide Supported Palladium Nanoparticles for Enhanced Electrocatalytic\nActivity toward Formate Electrooxidation in an Alkaline Medium

Abstract

The development of alkaline anion\nexchange membranes (AEM) has allowed for a myriad of new liquid fuels\nto be used in fuel cell applications that cannot be effectively oxidized\nunder acidic conditions using proton exchange membrane fuel cells\n(PEMFCs). Moreover, many of these fuels are readily electrooxidized\nby non-platinum group metal catalysts under basic conditions. Interested\nin the direct formate fuel cell (DFFC), we have explored the activity\nof palladium supported on reduced graphene oxide (Pd/rGO) toward the\nformate oxidation reaction in the alkaline medium. The reduction of\nGO to rGO and synthesis of Pd nanoparticles were confirmed using X-ray\ndiffraction, Raman, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopies. The surface\nmorphology was evaluated by scanning electron microscopy and transmission\nelectron microscopy. Half-cell studies demonstrated superior electrocatalytic\nactivity and stability toward formate electrooxidation for Pd/rGO\nthan commercial Pd/C catalysts. A low metal loading AEM DFFC, fabricated\nwith a Pd/rGO anode catalyst, displayed a 15% increase in maximum\npower density at 60 °C compared to the commercial Pd/C catalyst.