Electro-catalytic Activity of Carbon Nanofibers Supported Palladium Nanoparticles for Direct Alcohol Fuel Cells in Alkaline Medium

Carbon nanofibers (CNFs) were successfully prepared employing a chemical vapor deposition method using chicken oil as a starting material. CNFs acquired from waste chicken fat represent a fascinating alternative to produce low-cost/cheap fuel cell electro-catalysts. The Pd/CNF electro-catalyst was synthesized using carbon nanofibers as a support material without adjusting the pH of the solution. The synthesized nanomaterials were studied using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), Raman spectroscopy, Transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray diffractometry (XRD), and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The FTIR outcomes confirmed that the prepared carbon nanofibers are functionalized with carboxylic acid functional groups which enhance the dispersion of Pd nanoparticles. The Raman spectrum revealed that the synthesized CNFs contain two peaks D and G bands, which correspond to a disordered carbon peak (D) and graphite peak (G). TEM pictures confirmed that the synthesized nanomaterials were of the nanoscale and not uniformed in size. XRD peaks confirmed that the carbon nanofibers were amorphous and Pd (111) was observed in the Pd/CNF electro-catalyst. XPS results showed the composition of the prepared samples and the oxidation states of Pd in Pd/CNF electro-catalyst. The Pd/CNF electro-catalyst prepared by CVD method exhibits superior performance towards the electro-oxidation of ethanol and methanol as compared to the commercial palladium electro-catalyst.