Ethanol electrooxidation on high-performance mesoporous ZnFe2O4-supported palladium nanoparticles

• Published in: New journal of chemistry 2019, Vol.43 (9), p.3884-389
• Main Authors: Kaedi, Fariba, Yavari, Zahra, Asmaei, Milad, Abbasian, Ahmad Reza, Noroozifar, Meissam
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Combustion synthesis; Ethanol; Morphology; Nanocomposites; Nanoparticles; Palladium; Scanning electron microscopy; X-ray diffraction; Zinc ferrites
• ISSN: 1144-0546; 1369-9261
• DOI: 10.1039/c8nj05950k

As a catalyst for the electrooxidation of ethanol, a well-dispersed mesoporous ZnFe 2 O 4 powder (ZnFe 2 O 4 MP) as a support for Pd nanoparticles (PdNPs) was fabricated using solution combustion synthesis, which is an easy and environmentally friendly method. The morphology and structure of ZnFe 2 O 4 MP were characterized using scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, and N 2 adsorption/desorption analysis. Mesopore sizes of ZnFe 2 O 4 MP were mainly in the range of 2-19 nm. Subsequently, PdNPs were reduced on the surface and into the pores of ZnFe 2 O 4 MP. The behaviors and electrocatalytic abilities of ZnFe 2 O 4 MP, PdNPs and PdNPs-ZnFe 2 O 4 MP were compared using electrochemical techniques. An electrochemically active surface area of 64.54 m 2 g −1 was shown for PdNPs-ZnFe 2 O 4 MP. The incorporation of ZnFe 2 O 4 MP as a support for nanocomposites improved the electrocatalytic ability of PdNPs with decrease in the onset potential and increase in the current. As a catalyst for the electrooxidation of ethanol, a well-dispersed mesoporous ZnFe 2 O 4 powder (ZnFe 2 O 4 MP) as a support for Pd nanoparticles (PdNPs) was fabricated using solution combustion synthesis, which is an easy and environmentally friendly method.