Effect of nitrogen-doped acetylene carbon black supported Pd nanocatalyst on formic acid electrooxidation

• Published in: Journal of power sources Vol. 239; pp. 94 - 102
• Main Authors: Chang, Jinfa, Sun, Xiujuan, Feng, Ligang, Xing, Wei, Qin, Xiujuan, Shao, Guangjie
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Amsterdam Elsevier B.V 01.10.2013; Elsevier
• Subjects: Applied sciences; Catalysis; Catalysts: preparations and properties; Chemistry; Direct energy conversion and energy accumulation; Direct formic acid fuel cells; Electrical engineering. Electrical power engineering; Electrical power engineering; Electrochemical conversion: primary and secondary batteries, fuel cells; Electrooxidation; Energy; Energy. Thermal use of fuels; Equipments for energy generation and conversion: thermal, electrical, mechanical energy, etc; Exact sciences and technology; Fuel cells; General and physical chemistry; Nitrogen-doped; Palladium nanoparticles; Synergetic effect; Theory of reactions, general kinetics. Catalysis. Nomenclature, chemical documentation, computer chemistry; Electrooxidation; Nitrogen-doped; Synergetic effect; Direct formic acid fuel cells; Palladium nanoparticles; Carbon black; Nanoparticle; Doped materials; Transition metal; Palladium; Formic acid fuel cells; Nitrogen addition; Carbon; Synergism; Supported catalyst; Formic acid; Oxidation; Electrochemical reaction; Platinoid; Acetylene black
• ISSN: 0378-7753; 1873-2755
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jpowsour.2013.03.066

Nitrogen-doped acetylene carbon black (N-C) is prepared by annealing acetylene carbon black and melamine under the protection of N2 at different temperatures. The resultant N-C materials are used as the support of Pd catalyst (Pd/N-C) for formic acid electrooxidation (FAEO). The catalytic activity of the Pd/N-C catalyst towards FAEO is evaluated by cyclic voltammetry, COad stripping voltammetry and chronoamperometry. The results show that when the heat-treatment temperature of support is 900 °C, the corresponding catalyst, Pd/N-C-900, generate 2.84-fold and 0.96-fold higher activity than homemade and commercial Pd/C catalysts in 0.5 M H2SO4 and 0.5 M HCOOH solution. The COad stripping voltammetry results demonstrate that Pd/N-C-900 has much better resistance to CO poisoning. Moreover, the effect of formic acid concentration and the temperature on the Pd/N-C catalysts are also explored, which confirms the really enhanced performances for FAEO. It is founded that the doping of nitrogen results an increase in the performance for FAEO due to the improved Pd nanoparticles (Pd NPs) dispersion and the modified electronic effect. The results indicate that the Pd/N-C catalyst has great application prospect as a high-performance anode catalyst for direct formic acid fuel cells (DFAFCs). •Palladium nanoparticles supported on the N-doped carbon materials used for FAEO.•Pd/N-C-900 catalyst shows the best catalytic activity and stability for FAEO.•Syngenetic effect of catalyst and support proposed for the catalytic process.