Surfactant-Free Polyol Synthesis of Effective Pd-Cu Nanomaterials for H2/O2 Solid Polymer Electrolyte Fuel Cells

Autor(es)

Isidoro, Roberta A. ; Sahin, Nihat E. ; Fonseca, Fabio C. ; Napporn, Teko W. ; Santiago, Elisabete I. ; Kokoh, Kouakou Boniface

• Tipo de documento: Artigo Científico
• Fonte: HEMNANOMA; v. N/A, p. 13-pg., 2025-11-28.

Resumo

This study presents a facile synthesis of carbon-supported binarypalladium-copper (Pd-Cu/C) nanomaterials designed to achieve competitive catalytic activity while reducing material costs in solid polymer electrolyte (SPE) fuel cells. A surfactant-free, microwave-heated polyol process is employed to synthesize Pd/C and Pd-Cu/C nanomaterials with mean particle size below 4.0 nm. The electrocatalytic activity toward oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) and the corresponding kinetic parameters of Pd-Cu/C electrodes with varying compositions are systematically interrogated using rotating disk electrode (RDE) measurements. Notably, Tafel analysis reveals a slope of 60 +/- 2 mV per decade slope at low current densities indicating that the first electron transfer to molecular oxygen (O2) is the rate-determining step. At higher current densities, a slope of 144 +/- 8 mV per decade suggests a transition proton-coupled electron transfer as the dominant mechanism. Furthermore, electrochemical performance of membrane-electrode-assemblies (MEAs) reveals a peak power density of similar to 475 mW cm-2 with Pd /C cathode under optimal operating conditions. However, increasing the Cu content in the Pd-Cu/C catalysts results in a marked decrease in current density, likely due to partial Cu dissolution. These findings highlight the potential of binary Pd-Cu nanomaterials as promising alternatives to platinum-based catalysts for Pt-free SPE fuel cell applications. (AU)

• Processo FAPESP: 23/14931-8 - Dispositivos eletroquímicos avançados de conversão de moléculas e produção de energia
• Beneficiário: Fabio Coral Fonseca
• Modalidade de apoio: Auxílio à Pesquisa - Temático