Title: Stable palladium hydride as a superior anode electrocatalyst for direct formic acid fuel cells

Authors: Jiawei Zhang, Meishan Chen, Huiqi Li, Yongjian Li, Jinyu Ye, Zhenming Cao, Minling Fang, Qin Kuang, Jun Zheng, Zhaoxiong Xie

Abstract:

Direct formic acid fuel cells (DFAFCs) are a promising clean power source. To date, palladium (Pd)-based catalysts are the best promising anode catalyst for DFAFCs due to its high anti-poisoning ability and low cost. In this paper, we report a high-efficiency stabe PdH_x nanocatalyst towards DFAFCs. The PdH_x nanocatalysts are prepared by simply treating the commercial Pd black with n-butylamine at relative low temperature (100 − 200 °C). They are extremely stable, and the as-prepared PdH_0.43 nanocatalysts show extremely low overpotential for formic acid electrooxidation, with an oxidation peak potential of 0.04 V versus SCE (saturated calomel electrode). Meanwhile, the PdH_0.43 exhibits as high as 3 times mass activity, 5 times specific activity and great catalytic stability, compared with the untreated commercial Pd black. The present strategy offers a convenient way to boost the performance of Pd nanocatalysts in DFAFCs.

Full-Link:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2211285517307668