Ternary supportless Pd@Cd-Ag core-shell as advanced nanocatalysts towards electro-oxidation performance of ethanol

Developing highly active Pd-based nanocatalysts with a well-organized structure is desired for direct alcohol fuel cell commercialization. In this study, room temperature seed mediated growth strategy has been successfully developed to prepare ternary Pd@Cd x -Ag y core-shell as advanced novel non-Pt anode nanocatalysts for ethanol oxidation reaction EOR in alkaline electrolyte . The introduction of oxophilic Cd and Ag metals into Pd nanocatalysts can reduce the adsorption energy of OH ads on the Pd@Cd x -Ag y nanocatalysts and inhibit the CO ads on the Pd surface. Morphological characterization demonstrates that the as-synthesized Pd@Cd x -Ag y nanocatalysts are well-organized core-shell nanostructure with Pd NPs as the core and Cd-Ag alloy as the shell. Moreover, electrochemical results indicate that the Pd@Cd 1 -Ag 1 core-shell catalyst exhibit a remarkable electrochemical activity ( 2995.76 mA mg Pd − 1 $2995.76\mathrm{mA}{\mathrm{mg}}_{\mathrm{Pd}}^{-1}$ ), excellent CO tolerance and long-term durability compared to those of Pd@Cd ( 1285.9 mA mg Pd − 1 $(1285.9\mathrm{mA}{\mathrm{mg}}_{\mathrm{Pd}}^{-1}$ ), Pd@Ag ( 2423.52 mA mg Pd − 1 $2423.52\mathrm{mA}{\mathrm{mg}}_{\mathrm{Pd}}^{-1}$ ) and commercial Pd/C (JM) ( 477.4 mA mg Pd − 1 $477.4\mathrm{mA}{\mathrm{mg}}_{\mathrm{Pd}}^{-1}$ ) nanocatalysts. The excellent catalytic activity and stability of Pd@Cd 1 -Ag 1 nanocatalyst can be associated to their huge electrochemical active surface area, positive influence of Cd-Ag NPs on Pd NPs and the unique well-organized core-shell nanostructure. These results suggested that the as-synthesized Pd@ C d x -Ag y core-shell could serve as advanced catalysts towards alkaline DEFCs.