Design the PdCu/Ni2P electrocatalyst with high efficiency for ethanol oxidation reaction in alkaline media

To facilitate the electrocatalytic behavior of Direct Ethanol Fuel Cells (DEFCs), a sequence of bimetallic Pd x Cu y /Ni 2 P-C catalysts are synthesized via the microwave-assisted ethylene glycol reduction method. The results indicate that our designed Pd 2 Cu/Ni 2 P-C(1:1) catalyst owns high activity (3974.08 mA mg −1 Pd ), 8.3 times higher than the commercial Pd/C. The durability and the CO tolerance of the corresponding catalysts are also investigated by chronoamperometry (CA) and CO stripping measurements, implying Pd 2 Cu/Ni 2 P-C(1:1) shows good durability and the anti-CO poisoning ability for EOR in alkaline media . The electrochemical impedance spectra (EIS) analysis reveals lower charge transfer resistance for Pd 2 Cu/Ni 2 P-C(1:1). Combined with the results of XRD , HRTEM , XPS and electrochemical measurements, we found that the good electrocatalytic activity , CO tolerance and long-term durability of Pd 2 Cu/Ni 2 P-C(1:1) may be provided by the electronic and strain effect among Pd, Cu and Ni 2 P, which will bring the downshift in the d-band center of catalysts and the weakened adsorption of intermediates.