Author:

Keywords:

ALKALINE DIRECT ETHANOL, BIMETALLIC NANOPARTICLES, borohydride oxidation, Chemistry, Chemistry, Multidisciplinary, direct borohydride peroxide fuel cell, ELECTROCATALYTIC ACTIVITY, ELECTROCHEMICAL OXIDATION, HYDROGEN PEROXIDE, INTER-PARTICLE DISTANCE, kinetic parameters, Materials Science, Materials Science, Multidisciplinary, METAL NANOPARTICLES, nanoparticle, Nanoscience & Nanotechnology, OXYGEN REDUCTION REACTION, palladium, PEROXIDE FUEL-CELL, Physical Sciences, Physics, Physics, Applied, Science & Technology, Science & Technology - Other Topics, SODIUM-BOROHYDRIDE, Technology, trimetallic catalysts, 0912 Materials Engineering, 1007 Nanotechnology, 4016 Materials engineering, 4018 Nanotechnology

Abstract:

The synthesis of palladium-based trimetallic catalysts via a facile and scalable synthesis procedure was shown to yield highly promising materials for borohydride-based fuel cells, which are attractive for use in compact environments. This, thereby, provides a route to more environmentally friendly energy storage and generation systems. Carbon-supported trimetallic catalysts were herein prepared by three different routes: using a NaBH4-ethylene glycol complex (PdAuNi/CSBEG), a NaBH4-2-propanol complex (PdAuNi/CSBIPA), and a three-step route (PdAuNi/C3-step). Notably, PdAuNi/CSBIPA yielded highly dispersed trimetallic alloy particles, as determined by XRD, EDX, ICP-OES, XPS, and TEM. The activity of the catalysts for borohydride oxidation reaction was assessed by cyclic voltammetry and RDE-based procedures, with results referenced to a Pd/C catalyst. A number of exchanged electrons close to eight was obtained for PdAuNi/C3-step and PdAuNi/CSBIPA (7.4 and 7.1, respectively), while the others, PdAuNi/CSBEG and Pd/CSBIPA, presented lower values, 2.8 and 1.2, respectively. A direct borohydride-peroxide fuel cell employing PdAuNi/CSBIPA catalyst in the anode attained a power density of 47.5 mW cm-2 at room temperature, while the elevation of temperature to 75 °C led to an approximately four-fold increase in power density to 175 mW cm-2. Trimetallic catalysts prepared via this synthesis route have significant potential for future development.