Oxygen reduction reaction on carbon supported Palladium-Nickel alloys in alkaline media

Carbon supported Palladium-Nickel alloys with various compositions (Pd-Ni/C) were synthesized by chemical reduction of the co-precipitated Pd and Ni hydroxides on carbon. The structure of these alloys was characterized using X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis. The catalytic activity of Pd-Ni/C for oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) in alkaline media was studied using a glassy carbon rotating disk electrode (RDE). Pd/C showed ORR activity close to that of Pt/C. The activities of Pd-Ni (3:1)/C and Pd-Ni (1: 1)/C were found unchanged compared with that of Pd/C. Ni/C showed about 175 mV lower onset potential than Pt/C, and the activity of Pd-Ni (1:3)/C was observed to be between that of Pd/C and Ni/C. (C) 2009 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.