Zeolite supported palladium nanoparticle characterization for fuel cell application

• Published in: International journal of hydrogen energy Vol. 42; no. 29; pp. 18560 - 18567
• Main Authors: Yao, Jun, Yao, Yufeng
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier Ltd 20.07.2017
• Subjects: EXAFS and CV techniques; Fuel cell application; Zeolite supported palladium nanoparticle; Zeolite supported palladium nanoparticle; Fuel cell application; EXAFS and CV techniques
• ISSN: 0360-3199; 1879-3487
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ijhydene.2017.04.182

Palladium (Pd) has been widely used as a type of hydrogen storage material and has attracted much attention for fuel cell applications, due to its high solubility and mobility of hydrogen in Pd. In this study, Pd nanoparticles made by 1.5 wt% Pd loading on Y-zeolite under pre-treatment was employed to investigate their electrochemical activities using cyclic voltammetry (CV), and detailed local structural characterization of Pd cluster was probed by the extended X-ray absorption fine structure. Pd nanoparticle sizes were predicted at 0.81 nm–1.2 nm and the CV measurement has demonstrated that Pd zeolite catalyst has exhibited a similar tendency to those 40% Pd on XC-72R carbon. The hydrogen spillover process and surface conductance pathways contribute to the electrochemical behavior on Pd surface. In electrochemical environment, hydrogen is able to form hydride phase on Pd surface by either direct hydrogen adsorption or migrating to the centre of Pd. •Quantify electrochemical activity of Pd nanoparticle in electrolyte solution by CV.•Characterize detailed local structure of Pd cluster by X-ray based EXAFS technique.•Measure Pd nanoparticle size on Y-zeolite under different pre-treatment conditions.•Explore up-hill diffusion process and surface conductance pathways on Pd surface.•Discuss electrochemical reaction behavior on Pd surface and Pt particle size.