Synthesis of PdV/C nanoparticles using phase transfer method for oxygen reduction in alkaline electrolytes

Bimetallic PdV/C nanoparticles have been synthesized by phase-transfer method for catalyzing the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) in alkaline electrolytes . PdV/C nanoparticles with different V contents are spherical with a mean diameter of 3–4 nm, and the addition of V expands the lattice parameter of Pd as shown by XRD . XPS analysis indicated the binding energy of Pd 0 3d peak increased by ca. 1 eV. Density functional theory (DFT) calculations results shows d-band center of Pd down-shift after V-doping. Based on the electrocatalytic results, introducing V can improve the catalytic activity for ORR, methanol crossover tolerance and stability. Especially, Pd 4 V/C shows higher initial potential (E onset  = 1.027 V), excellent methanol crossover tolerance (98.03% retained) and long-term stability (81.30% retained), which are comparable with Pt/C JM . This work provides a new method of synthesizing PdV/C nanoparticles , which have the potential to be used as the cathode electrocatalysts for fuel cells.