Cubic PdPtRu Trimetallic Nanocomposite: Electrocatalytic Application As Anode Material for Direct Methanol Fuel Cell

• Published in: International journal of electrochemical science 2015-12, Vol.10 (12), p.10292-10306
• Main Authors: Yousaf, Ammar Bin, Afsar, Noor-Ul, Zeb, Akif, Imran, Muhammad, Yuan, Cheng-Zong
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Electrochemical co-deposition; Methanol oxidation reaction; Pd nanocubes; Tri-metallic nanocomposite
• ISSN: 1452-3981; 1452-3981
• DOI: 10.1016/S1452-3981(23)11260-0

Palladium Nanocubes based tri-metallic nanocomposite has been synthesized by electrochemical codeposition of PtRu on Pd-NCs. Structural and morphological characterizations of PtRu@Pd-NCs nanocomposite material were performed using X-ray diffraction, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy analysis and transmission electron microscopy. The electrocatalytic activity for methanol oxidation reaction (MOR) is studied in HClO4 aqueous solution. A significant improvement in the MOR activity is observed by increasing the atomic ratio of Pt in PtRu co-deposition on Pd-NCs up to an optimum value. Among all prepared catalysts, Pt3Ru@Pd-NCs has shown highest mass activity (ca.10500 mA mg-1Pd and 75mA mg-1Pt) and specific activity (ca. 7.85 mA cm-2) for MOR at lower peak potential ca. 0.70V. The as-developed catalyst has also shown lower onset potential with enhanced durability and stability towards MOR. The results can be attributed to the collective effect of PtRu nanoparticles and the enhanced electron transfer of Pd-NCs in tri-metallic nanocomposite material.