A facile synthesis of 3D network PdCu nanostructure with enhanced electrocatalytic activity towards ethanol oxidation

In this study, three-dimensional (3D) porous PdCu bimetallic alloys were synthetized through a facile one pot method by employing hydrazine hydrate, polyvinylpyrrolidone and sodium bromide as the reducing agent, surfactant and structure-directing agent, respectively. The network nanostructure offers large open pores and special morphology which plays an important role in strengthening ethanol electrocatalytic activity and durability. The as-prepared 3D network PdCu nanocatalyst displays greatly enhanced electrocatalytic activities towards ethanol oxidation in alkaline medium. Notably, the catalyst with Pd:Cu atomic ratio of 1:1 exhibits the highest electrocatalytic activity, its mass activity of ethanol oxidation reaches 3362.50 mA/mg, which is 7.20 times than that of commercial Pd/C catalyst. This study suggests that introduction of copper could possibly improve the feasibility of the direct ethanol fuel cells for real world applications by improving electrocatalytic activity and lowering production cost. (C) 2017 Taiwan Institute of Chemical Engineers. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.