Rational design of PdRu/TiO2 composite material for advancing electrochemical catalysis of methanol oxidation

• Published in: Journal of power sources 2020-10, Vol.472, p.228517, Article 228517
• Main Authors: Zheng, Yunshan, Chen, Fu, Liu, Xinling, Guo, Xiaoyu, Ying, Ye, Wu, Yiping, Wen, Ying, Yang, Haifeng
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Long-term stability; Methanol oxidation; PdRu/TiO2; Product analysis; Superior catalysis activity
• ISSN: 0378-7753; 1873-2755
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jpowsour.2020.228517

Rational design of the durable catalysts is an important issue for improving the application performance of synthesized electrocatalysts for methanol oxidation reaction (MOR). In this work, mesoporous Pd6Ru4/TiO2-1 composite catalyst is prepared by using two-step reaction. Compared with 20%Pd/C, PdRu, Ru/TiO2-1, and Pd/TiO2-1 catalysts, Pd6Ru4/TiO2-1 catalyst has several merits of abundant electrochemical surface areas, excellent electrocatalytic activity and long-term-use stability. Ru doping into Pd/TiO2-1 greatly optimizes the electronic structure of Pd by decreasing its electron density. Pd6Ru4/TiO2-1 also exhibits high turnover number (TON), low activation energy (ΔEa) values for MOR, and higher tolerance to CO-poisoning. A satisfactory level of methanol conversion to the final products is validated by chromatographic results. Density functional theory (DFT) calculation could deepen the understanding of excellent tolerance to CO-poisoning. [Display omitted] •Mesoporous PdRu/TiO2 catalyst is easily prepared by using two-step reaction.•Ru doped Pd accelerates MOR kinetics of final catalyst.•Redistribution of charge between Pd, Ru and TiO2 elevates catalytic activity.•PdRu/TiO2 shows high TON for MOR.•PdRu/TiO2 has superior capability against CO poisoning.