Ethanol electrooxidation on high-performance mesoporous ZnFe2O4-supported palladium nanoparticles

As a catalyst for the electrooxidation of ethanol, a well-dispersed mesoporous ZnFe2O4 powder (ZnFe2O4MP) as a support for Pd nanoparticles (PdNPs) was fabricated using solution combustion synthesis, which is an easy and environmentally friendly method. The morphology and structure of ZnFe2O4MP were characterized using scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, and N-2 adsorption/desorption analysis. Mesopore sizes of ZnFe2O4MP were mainly in the range of 2-19 nm. Subsequently, PdNPs were reduced on the surface and into the pores of ZnFe2O4MP. The behaviors and electrocatalytic abilities of ZnFe2O4MP, PdNPs and PdNPs-ZnFe2O4MP were compared using electrochemical techniques. An electrochemically active surface area of 64.54 m(2) g(-1) was shown for PdNPs-ZnFe2O4MP. The incorporation of ZnFe2O4MP as a support for nanocomposites improved the electrocatalytic ability of PdNPs with decrease in the onset potential and increase in the current.