Pd, Pd–Ni and Pd–Ni–Fe nanoparticles anchored on MnO2/Vulcan as efficient ethanol electro-oxidation anode catalysts

Pd–Ni–Fe nanoparticles supported on MnO2/Vulcan XC-72 R (carbon black powder) as the electrocatalyst for the anodic oxidation of ethanol in a direct ethanol alkaline fuel cell (DEAFC) has been conducted. Electrocatalyst structures and morphologies are investigated by XRD, FE-SEM, EDX and elemental mapping techniques and subsequently electrochemical performance of electrocatalysts for ethanol oxidation reaction (EOR) are studied by cyclic voltammetry (CV), chronoamperometry (CA) and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). Pd/MnO2/Vulcan, Pd–Ni/MnO2/Vulcan and Pd–Ni–Fe/MnO2/Vulcan efficiently advanced ethanol electro-oxidation reaction under alkaline conditions. Pd/MnO2/Vulcan revealed best potential window and low charge transfer resistance (Rct) for EOR. Pd–Ni/MnO2/Vulcan and Pd–Ni–Fe/MnO2/Vulcan electrocatalysts have a good anti CO-poisoning capability. Pd–Ni–Fe/MnO2/Vulcan has significantly high current density, excellent catalyst durability and cyclic stability for ethanol oxidation which encourage researchers for application of such exceptional materials as anode electrocatalysts in DEFC.