Clean synthesis of biocarbon-supported Ni@Pd core–shell particles via hydrothermal method for direct ethanol fuel cell anode application

• Published in: Clean technologies and environmental policy Vol. 22; no. 1; pp. 259 - 268
• Main Authors: Leal da Silva, E., Cuña, A., Reyes Plascencia, C., Radtke, C., Tancredi, N., de Fraga Malfatti, C.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Berlin/Heidelberg Springer Berlin Heidelberg 2020; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Anodizing; Biomass; Catalysts; Cell anodes; Clean energy; Earth and Environmental Science; Electrocatalysts; Electrochemical analysis; Electrochemistry; Energy; Environment; Environmental Economics; Environmental Engineering/Biotechnology; Environmental policy; Ethanol; Fuel cells; Fuel technology; Heavy metals; Industrial and Production Engineering; Industrial Chemistry/Chemical Engineering; Liquefaction; Nanoparticles; Nickel; Noble metals; Organic chemistry; Original Paper; Oxidation; Palladium; Salts; Sustainable Development; Sustainable energy; Synthesis; Ni@Pd core–shell; Biomass residues; Ethanol oxidation reaction; In situ ATR-FTIRS; Hydrothermal synthesis
• ISSN: 1618-954X; 1618-9558
• DOI: 10.1007/s10098-019-01782-1

Direct ethanol fuel cells (DEFCs) are devices for clean and sustainable energy production, where the generation of electrical energy occurs as a result of the anodic ethanol oxidation reaction (EOR). One of the main challenges of these devices is the development of cost-effective and sustainable anodic catalysts, minimizing the use of noble metals such as Pd. In this sense, biomass-derived carbon-supported core–shell nanoparticles of PdNi-based electrocatalyst are of great interest for EOR and its application in DEFCs. The purpose of this work was to demonstrate the possibility of synthesizing a core–shell Ni@Pd electrocatalysts via hydrothermal method, in a fast, simple and environmental friendly way. A biomass hydrothermal liquefaction method using nickel and palladium salts was used to synthesize a biocarbon-supported nickel/palladium core–shell electrocatalyst (Ni@Pd/aHC). The electrocatalyst was morphological and chemical characterized in order to confirm the core–shell particle formation. The electrochemical characterization showed that the Ni@Pd/aHC sample has good electrocatalytic behaviour and good stability over time. The EOR mechanism on the sample and their influence in the faradaic efficiency of a cell were also studied by spectroelectrochemical analysis. Graphic abstract