Palladium supported on NiFe layered double hydroxide as an effective electrocatalyst for methanol electro-oxidation

Pt and Pd have an excellent catalytic capacity for methanol oxidation and have the highest discharge efficiency among direct methanol fuel cell anode materials. However, the catalyst produces carbon monoxide and other intermediates (*COad) during the methanol oxidation process, causing Pt/Pd active site poisoning. In this work, Pd was introduced into the layered double hydroxide (NiFe-LDH) by hydrothermal method, and CO-poisoning was successfully inhibited. NiFe-LDH has a larger Pd-loaded surface and provides a more efficient platform for the formation of *OH, which can effectively promote the oxidation of *COad (2 *OHad+*COad→CO2 + H2O) and improve the activity of Pd. The Pd/Ni4Fe6-LDH shows excellent OER activity (overpotential is 268 mV @ 20 mA cm−2) and MOR activity (mass activity is 2665.3 mA mg−1Pd). The Ni4Fe6-LDH synergetic Pd opens the door for reducing the CO-poison and enhancing the MOR durability for the long-use life of DMFCs.