Synthesis of defect-rich palladium-tin alloy nanochain networks for formic acid oxidation

• Published in: Journal of colloid and interface science Vol. 530; pp. 189 - 195
• Main Authors: Gong, Yuyan, Liu, Xuehua, Gong, Yangyang, Wu, Diben, Xu, Binghui, Bi, Lei, Zhang, Lian Ying, Zhao, X.S.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Elsevier Inc 15.11.2018
• Subjects: Active sites; alloys; catalysts; catalytic activity; dendrites; Electrocatalyst; electrochemistry; electrodes; formic acid; Formic acid oxidation reaction; Fuel cells; oxidation; Pd4Sn nanochain networks; surface area; Pd4Sn nanochain networks; Electrocatalyst; Formic acid oxidation reaction; Active sites; Fuel cells; PdSn nanochain networks
• ISSN: 0021-9797; 1095-7103; 1095-7103
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jcis.2018.06.074

[Display omitted] Unique and novel Pd4Sn nanochain networks were successfully synthesized with an average diameter of 5 nm, rendering a modified Pd electronic structure with rich defects such as atomic corners, steps or ledges as catalytic active sites for great enhancement of charge transfer and electrode kinetics. The prepared Pd4Sn nanochain networks held an electrochemically active surface area as high as 119.40 m2 g−1, and exhibited higher catalytic activity and stability toward formic acid oxidation compared with Pd3Sn nanochain networks, Pd5Sn nanochain networks, Pd4Sn dendrites and Pd/C. The fundamental insight of the enhancement mechanism is discussed, and this work offers a novel, less expensive but highly active catalyst for direct formic acid fuel cells.