The effect of support on Pd1Nb1 electrocatalysts for ethanol fuel cells

Author(s):Show less -

Souza, Felipe M. ^[1] ; Nandenha, Julio ^[2] ; Oliveira, Vitor H. A. ^[1] ; Paz, Edson C. ^[1] ; Pinheiro, Victor S. ^[1] ; Aveiro, Luci R. ^[1] ; Parreira, Luanna S. ^[3] ; Silva, Julio C. M. ^[4] ; Batista, Bruno L. ^[1] ; Neto, Almir O. ^[2] ; Santos, Mauro C. ^[1]

Affiliation

^[1] Univ Fed ABC UFABC, CCNH, LEMN, Rua Santa Adelia 166, BR-09210170 Santo Andre, SP - Brazil

^[2] CNEN SP, IPEN, Ave Prof Lineu Prestes 2242, BR-05508000 Sao Paulo, SP - Brazil

^[3] Univ Sao Paulo, IQ, Ave Prof Lineu Prestes 748, BR-05508000 Sao Paulo, SP - Brazil

^[4] Univ Fed Fluminense, Inst Quim, Grp Eletroquim & Mat Nanoestruturados, Campus Valonguinho, BR-24020141 Niteroi, RJ - Brazil

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: RENEWABLE ENERGY; v. 150, p. 293-306, MAY 2020.
• Web of Science Citations: 0

Abstract

Pd1Nb1/C on different kinds of carbon black were prepared by a modified sol-gel method. The alkaline direct ethanol fuel cell (ADEFC) performance was performed first with the Pd1Nb1 electrocatalysts and then by varying the fuel concentration. In CV, Pd1Nb1/Printex 6L (50:50 wt%) exhibited 2.2 times higher mass activity than that of the Pd/C (Alfa Aesar); their mass activities were 1300 and 590 mA mg(Pd)(-1), respectively. The best performance for the ADEFC was obtained using Pd1Nb1/Printex 6L, which yielded a maximum power density and cell voltage of 28 mW cm(-2) and 1.17 V, respectively. The Pd1Nb1/Printex 6L electrocatalyst exhibited a more negative onset potential for the CO stripping reaction. We suggest that the higher hydrophilicity (contact angle) and higher degree of disorder of Printex 6L (Raman) corroborates these results. In addition, both bifunctional and electronic effects operated on the electrocatalyst due to the presence of metal oxides and alloys of PdNb (XRD), respectively, in the synthesized electrocatalysts. Therefore, it was notable that the support has an essential role-as important as the cocatalyst-in the electrocatalytic performance. (C) 2020 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 17/26288-1 - Hybrid electrocatalysts based on Pd, Pt and Sn nanoparticles, and on ceria nanorods for application in fuel cells
• Grantee: Victor dos Santos Pinheiro
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate
• FAPESP's process: 15/10314-8 - Nanostructures for Phenol, Ciprofloxacin and 17±-ethinylestradiol Degradation
• Grantee: Mauro Coelho dos Santos
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants
• FAPESP's process: 17/22976-0 - Development of palladium and niobium nanoelectrocatalysts for alkaline direct ethanol fuel cells
• Grantee: Felipe de Moura Souza
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate (Direct)
• FAPESP's process: 17/10118-0 - Study and application of electrochemical technology for the analysis and degradation of endocrine interferents: materials, sensors, processes and scientific dissemination
• Grantee: Marcos Roberto de Vasconcelos Lanza
• Support Opportunities: Research Projects - Thematic Grants
• FAPESP's process: 17/21846-6 - Nanostructures for environmental remediation and power generation from renewable sources
• Grantee: Mauro Coelho dos Santos
• Support Opportunities: Program for Research on Bioenergy (BIOEN) - Regular Program Grants