The influence of ZrO2 promoter in Pd/fCNDs-ZrO2 catalyst towards alcohol fuel electrooxidation in alkaline media

Sandile Surprise Gwebu; Nobanathi Wendy Maxakato

doi:10.1088/2053-1591/ab640e

The influence of ZrO₂ promoter in Pd/fCNDs-ZrO₂ catalyst towards alcohol fuel electrooxidation in alkaline media

Sandile Surprise Gwebu, Nobanathi Wendy Maxakato

Chemical Sciences

University of Johannesburg

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

4 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

The severe corrosion of carbon supports has attracted the development of ceramic-based support materials. Non-precious metal oxides are potential support materials for fuel cells owing to their corrosion resistance under the harsh fuel cell environment. However, they cannot be used as primary support materials because they are not good electric conductors. In this study, we demonstrate that Pd nanoparticles supported on NaOH-functionalized carbon nanodots blended with zirconium dioxide can act as stable and electroactive anode catalysts for alkaline direct alcohol fuel cells (ADAFC). The Pd/fCNDs-ZrO₂ electrocatalyst was synthesized by a sonochemical method and characterized by x-ray diffraction (XRD) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Cyclic voltammetry (CV) and chronoamperometry (CA) were used to study the electrochemical activity and stability of the Pd/fCNDs-ZrO₂ catalyst towards methanol and ethanol oxidation in alkaline media. The observed results revealed that the Pd/fCNDs-ZrO₂ catalyst exhibits higher current densities (12.5 mA cm^-2 for ethanol and 20.05 mA cm^-2 for methanol) and lower poisoning rates compared to the Pd/fCNDs and commercial Pd/C catalysts.

Original language	English
Article number	015607
Journal	Materials Research Express
Volume	7
Issue number	1
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1088/2053-1591/ab640e
Publication status	Published - 2019

Keywords

carbon nanodots
electrocatalyst
ethanol
fuel cell
methanol
palladium
zirconium dioxide

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Electronic, Optical and Magnetic Materials
Biomaterials
Surfaces, Coatings and Films
Polymers and Plastics
Metals and Alloys

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

Access to Document

10.1088/2053-1591/ab640e

Cite this

@article{7ec0669f2d614272843e0b85da9e88d1,

title = "The influence of ZrO2 promoter in Pd/fCNDs-ZrO2 catalyst towards alcohol fuel electrooxidation in alkaline media",

abstract = "The severe corrosion of carbon supports has attracted the development of ceramic-based support materials. Non-precious metal oxides are potential support materials for fuel cells owing to their corrosion resistance under the harsh fuel cell environment. However, they cannot be used as primary support materials because they are not good electric conductors. In this study, we demonstrate that Pd nanoparticles supported on NaOH-functionalized carbon nanodots blended with zirconium dioxide can act as stable and electroactive anode catalysts for alkaline direct alcohol fuel cells (ADAFC). The Pd/fCNDs-ZrO2 electrocatalyst was synthesized by a sonochemical method and characterized by x-ray diffraction (XRD) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Cyclic voltammetry (CV) and chronoamperometry (CA) were used to study the electrochemical activity and stability of the Pd/fCNDs-ZrO2 catalyst towards methanol and ethanol oxidation in alkaline media. The observed results revealed that the Pd/fCNDs-ZrO2 catalyst exhibits higher current densities (12.5 mA cm-2 for ethanol and 20.05 mA cm-2 for methanol) and lower poisoning rates compared to the Pd/fCNDs and commercial Pd/C catalysts.",

keywords = "carbon nanodots, electrocatalyst, ethanol, fuel cell, methanol, palladium, zirconium dioxide",

author = "Gwebu, {Sandile Surprise} and Maxakato, {Nobanathi Wendy}",

note = "Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2020 The Author(s). Published by IOP Publishing Ltd.",

year = "2019",

doi = "10.1088/2053-1591/ab640e",

language = "English",

volume = "7",

journal = "Materials Research Express",

issn = "2053-1591",

publisher = "IOP Publishing Ltd.",

number = "1",

}

TY - JOUR

T1 - The influence of ZrO2 promoter in Pd/fCNDs-ZrO2 catalyst towards alcohol fuel electrooxidation in alkaline media

AU - Gwebu, Sandile Surprise

AU - Maxakato, Nobanathi Wendy

PY - 2019

Y1 - 2019

N2 - The severe corrosion of carbon supports has attracted the development of ceramic-based support materials. Non-precious metal oxides are potential support materials for fuel cells owing to their corrosion resistance under the harsh fuel cell environment. However, they cannot be used as primary support materials because they are not good electric conductors. In this study, we demonstrate that Pd nanoparticles supported on NaOH-functionalized carbon nanodots blended with zirconium dioxide can act as stable and electroactive anode catalysts for alkaline direct alcohol fuel cells (ADAFC). The Pd/fCNDs-ZrO2 electrocatalyst was synthesized by a sonochemical method and characterized by x-ray diffraction (XRD) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Cyclic voltammetry (CV) and chronoamperometry (CA) were used to study the electrochemical activity and stability of the Pd/fCNDs-ZrO2 catalyst towards methanol and ethanol oxidation in alkaline media. The observed results revealed that the Pd/fCNDs-ZrO2 catalyst exhibits higher current densities (12.5 mA cm-2 for ethanol and 20.05 mA cm-2 for methanol) and lower poisoning rates compared to the Pd/fCNDs and commercial Pd/C catalysts.

AB - The severe corrosion of carbon supports has attracted the development of ceramic-based support materials. Non-precious metal oxides are potential support materials for fuel cells owing to their corrosion resistance under the harsh fuel cell environment. However, they cannot be used as primary support materials because they are not good electric conductors. In this study, we demonstrate that Pd nanoparticles supported on NaOH-functionalized carbon nanodots blended with zirconium dioxide can act as stable and electroactive anode catalysts for alkaline direct alcohol fuel cells (ADAFC). The Pd/fCNDs-ZrO2 electrocatalyst was synthesized by a sonochemical method and characterized by x-ray diffraction (XRD) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Cyclic voltammetry (CV) and chronoamperometry (CA) were used to study the electrochemical activity and stability of the Pd/fCNDs-ZrO2 catalyst towards methanol and ethanol oxidation in alkaline media. The observed results revealed that the Pd/fCNDs-ZrO2 catalyst exhibits higher current densities (12.5 mA cm-2 for ethanol and 20.05 mA cm-2 for methanol) and lower poisoning rates compared to the Pd/fCNDs and commercial Pd/C catalysts.

KW - carbon nanodots

KW - electrocatalyst

KW - ethanol

KW - fuel cell

KW - methanol

KW - palladium

KW - zirconium dioxide

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85078360859&partnerID=8YFLogxK

U2 - 10.1088/2053-1591/ab640e

DO - 10.1088/2053-1591/ab640e

M3 - Article

AN - SCOPUS:85078360859

SN - 2053-1591

VL - 7

JO - Materials Research Express

JF - Materials Research Express

IS - 1

M1 - 015607

ER -