Enhancing the Electrocatalytic Performance of the Pd-Based Catalysts for Methanol and Ethanol Oxidation Reactions via Dysprosium Modification

This study investigates the electrocatalytic performance of the Pd-based catalysts for ethanol oxidation (EOR) and methanol oxidation reaction (MOR) by incorporating dysprosium (Dy), nitrogen-doped carbon (NC) as the catalyst support. Subsequently, the PdDy/NC catalysts with different Pd and Dy loadings are prepared using impregnation method, PdDy/NC-1 (4.6 wt% Pd and 4.2 wt% Dy), PdDy/NC-2 (6.5 wt% Pd and 2.4 wt% Dy), PdDy/NC-3 (7.9 wt% Pd and 0.8 wt% Dy), including Pd/NC (8.9 wt%), Dy/NC (9.0 wt%), and PdDy/C (6.5 wt% Pd and 2.3 wt% Dy). The morphologies, structures, and compositions of the catalysts are characterized by XRD, TEM, XPS, and SEM. Their electrocatalytic performance for the EOR and MOR are evaluated. The EOR and MOR test results indicate that the PdDy/NC-2 catalyst exhibits much superior performance compared to other as-obtained catalysts, its mass activity for the EOR reaches 1.610 A mg −1 Pd , MOR-1.640 A mg −1 Pd . After the 4000 s stability test, PdDy/NC-2 also shows superior durability compared to as-prepared other catalysts. The enhanced performance of PdDy/NC-2 is likely attributable to the synergistic interaction among N, Pd, and Dy, which significantly improves the electrocatalytic behaviors of the Pd-based catalysts, along with the additional active sites probably provided by the nitrogen doping. Graphical PdDy/NC with various Pd and Dy loadings are obtained via impregnation method. PdDy/NC-2 (6.5 wt% Pd and 2.4 wt% Dy) shows most excellent catalytic property for the EOR and MOR. The Dy/N doping and electron interaction (Dy → Pd) could improve the electrocatalytic performance of the Pd-based catalysts.