Palladium-Based Electrocatalysts for Alcohol Oxidation in Half Cells and in Direct Alcohol Fuel Cells

摘要

This review article describes and discusses the state-oftheart of the synthesis and characterization of Pd-based electrocatalysts for the oxidation of alcohols. It is widely documented here that Pd and Pd-alloy nanoparticles, supported on a variety of conductive materials, exhibit superior activity for the electrooxidation of alcohols and polyalcohols in alkaline solutions. Many different types of anodes containing Pd-based electrocatalysts are described which, in conjunction with anion-exchange membranes and appropriate cathodes, can be successfully employed to fabricate MEAs for monoplanar DAFCs. Fishing the best Pd-based catalyst for alcohol oxidation out of the very many examples described in this article is virtually impossible due to the different experimental conditions, in particular the Pd loading. Nevertheless, a mark of excellence can be safely attributed to the electocatalysts where Pd nanoparticles are combined with non-noble metal oxides or tungsten carbide for their excellent stability and activity at very low metal loading.