Nanoparticulated PdNi2 on mesoporous carbon: a methanol tolerant electrocatalyst for the oxygen reduction reaction

Abstract

The kinetics of the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) of PdNi 2 nanoparticles supported on a high specific area mesoporous carbon (MC) and Vulcan carbon was studied in the presence and absence of methanol in acid media. The electrocatalysts, synthesized by chemical reduction of the metal chlorides with NaBH 4 in aqueous media were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The catalyst supported on MC has a higher degree of Ni alloying and a smaller particle size than that supported on Vulcan. The electrochemical characterizations by RDE and DEMS indicate that PdNi 2 supported on the high surface area MC exhibits higher catalytic activity for the ORR, very similar to that of Pd- and Pt-based alloys with the advantage of a very low noble metal loading. Moreover, the PdNi 2 supported on MC shows an excellent methanol tolerance in acid media. Thus, this novel combination catalyst/support would be a suitable cathodic catalyst for direct methanol fuel cells.