Heterostructured Pd/Ti/Pd Thin Films as Highly Efficient Catalysts for Methanol and Formic Acid Oxidation

Finding a highly efficient catalyst for proton exchange membrane fuel cells is still the subject of extensive research. This article describes heterostructured Pd/Ti/Pd bimetallic thin films prepared using a strain-release technology as electrocatalysts for fuel cells. With their particular structure, these materials exhibit intriguing electrocatalytic activity toward the oxidation of both methanol and formic acid, yielding current densities of 0.17 and 0.56 A mg(Pd)(-1), much superior to that of the commercial Pd black catalyst. Moreover, the Pd/Ti/Pd thin films display a low onset oxidation potential and extremely high current retention in both acidic and alkaline media. The carbon monoxide poisoning resistance is also significantly enhanced, thus contributing to ultrahigh stability in the long-term electrocatalytic processes. Their encouraging performance implies that such composites could be potential materials for energy conversion in the fuel cell field.

Automated summary

This article presents heterostructured Pd/Ti/Pd bimetallic thin films as efficient electrocatalysts for proton exchange membrane fuel cells, demonstrating superior electrocatalytic activity towards the oxidation of methanol and formic acid. The materials show low onset oxidation potential, high current retention, and enhanced carbon monoxide poisoning resistance, suggesting their potential as promising materials for energy conversion in the fuel cell field.