Facile synthesis of heterophase sponge-like Pd toward enhanced formic acid oxidation

• Published in: Electrochemistry communications Vol. 126; p. 107004
• Main Authors: Jiang, Mengchao, Meng, Xiaomin, Zhang, Wenlin, Huang, Haowei, Wang, Fengqian, Wang, Shuo, Ouyang, Yirui, Yuan, Weiyong, Zhang, Lian Ying
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier B.V 01.05.2021; Elsevier
• Subjects: Formic acid oxidation; Fuel cells; Heterostructure; Mesoporous metal; Palladium; Heterostructure; Mesoporous metal; Palladium; Formic acid oxidation; Fuel cells
• ISSN: 1388-2481; 1873-1902
• DOI: 10.1016/j.elecom.2021.107004

[Display omitted] •Amorphous/crystalline heterophase sponge-like Pd (S-Pd) is synthesized.•S-Pd is prepared using a facile, one-pot, and surfactant-free polyol method.•S-Pd has an ultrahigh electrochemically active surface area.•S-Pd shows better catalytic activity toward formic acid electrooxidation than commercial Pd/C. The controllable preparation of noble metallic nanocrystals with a 3D architecture is of great interest for electrocatalysis applications due to their enhanced atomic utilization, facilitated mass transport, and other attractive properties. In this work, a facile, one-pot, and surfactant-free method of synthesizing heterophase sponge-like Pd (S-Pd) is developed. The prepared S-Pd has a four-fold higher peak current density and better durability than a commercial Pd/C catalyst for formic acid oxidation. It therefore has great potential as an anode catalyst for direct formic acid fuel cells.