New Preparation of PdNi/C and PdAg/C Nanocatalysts for Glycerol Electrooxidation in Alkaline Medium

PdAg/C and PdNi/C nanomaterials with different atomic compositions were successfully synthesized by a bromide anion exchange method and applied to the glycerol electrooxidation in alkaline medium. The catalysts were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), differential and thermogravimetric analysis, electrochemistry cyclic voltammetry, CO stripping, and spectroelectrochemistry. XRD showed a small crystallite size between 3 and 4 nm for PdNi/C, and 3 and 6 nm for PdAg/C. TEM results showed a good dispersion of the particles on the carbon support and a particle mean size ranging from 3.73 to 3.97 nm. The electrochemical experiments have highlighted a high specific electrochemical surface area for the different catalysts such as 69.20 m(2) g(-1) for Pd/C. Furthermore, all the bimetallic catalysts exhibited a good kinetic towards glycerol electrooxidation when compared to the monometallic material Pd/C and at lower potential values. The Pd60Ni40/C catalyst is outstandingly active, being therefore a good candidate for electrochemical valorization of glycerol conversion.