Synthesis of PdSn Nanoparticles with a Face‐Centered Cubic Structure for Electrocatalytic Ethanol Oxidation

Abstract

AbstractOwing to the advantages of large energy density, excellent conversion efficiency, and safety for storage, direct ethanol fuel cells (DEFCs) possess an extensive range of applications in alkaline mediums. In this study, we successfully synthesize the PdSn nanoparticles (NPs) with a different molar ratio of Pd/Sn by a simple one‐step method. The alloyed PdSn NPs present higher electrocatalytic activity and better stability than that of the commercial Pd/C toward ethanol oxidation reaction (EOR). Especially, the PdSn@NP‐2 displayed the best electrocatalytic performance among the as‐prepared samples, the current density for EOR in the alkaline condition of which can even approach 2463.8 mA mg−1, approximately 3.6 times of the commercial Pd/C (700 mA mg−1). Meanwhile, on the base of the electrochemical measurement, it is also observed that increasing temperature and concentrations of KOH/C2H5OH for PdSn NPs positively affect on the current density of the above samples.