Palladium-Platinum Alloy Anode Catalysts for Direct Formic Acid Fuel Cells

Abstract

The relationship between the composition of palladium-platinum alloy nanoparticles and their performance as electrocatalysts for formic acid electro-oxidation has been studied. Unsupported nanoparticle palladium-platinum alloys have been prepared by the co-reduction of palladium and platinum salts with ethylene glycol and characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD). The electrocatalytic activities of the alloys were compared to that of pure platinum and palladium nanoparticle catalysts using cyclic voltammetry, chronopotentiometry, and chronoamperometry. The results reveal a synergetic effect of platinum and palladium as well as independent behaviour of the two metals for formic acid oxidation.