Efficient and poison-tolerant PdxAuy/C binary electrocatalysts for glucose electrooxidation in alkaline medium

Carbon supported PdxAuy binary catalysts for glucose electrooxidation and detection were prepared by a modified pulse microwave assisted polyol method. The physico-chemical properties were obtained by X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and scanning electron microscopy with energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (SEM-EDS). The electrochemical activity was investigated through cyclic voltammetry and chronoamperometry. Based on the experimental results, it can be concluded that the combination of Pd and Au to get PdxAuy binary catalysts can take advantage of the high activity and low overpotential of Pd to glucose electrooxidation and poison tolerance of Au. More precisely, when the Pd/Au molar ratio was 30:70 (Pd30Au70/C), a desirable comprehensive performance, considering from current density, overpotential, and poison tolerance ability, was obtained. It was also found that Pd30Au70/C exhibited a very sensitive and linear amperometric response for glucose molecules, promising for the development of electrochemical glucose sensors and direct glucose fuel cells. (C) 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.