Electrochemical Behavior of Organics Oxidation on Palladium-Based Nanocatalysts Synthesized from Bromide Anion Exchange

Palladium-based and gold nanomaterials were synthesized by the so-called Bromide Anion Exchange method. This soft and clean synthetic route leads to well dispersed small nanoparticles on carbon support. Accordingly, these nanoscale structures have a high active surface area like 81 m(2) g(-1) for the 20 wt.% Pd/C electrocatalyst. The CO stripping experiments performed in alkaline medium have highlighted the dependence of the CO adsorption mode on palladium. When used as anode for glycerol or glucose electrooxidation in alkaline medium, they exhibit good activities. Moreover, the bimetallic catalysts showed an important improvement of the kinetics at lower potentials when compared to Pd/C. Some added value products like glycerate or glycolate have been detected by chromatographic analysis. These nanomaterials are promising electrodes in fuel or hybrid biofuel cell devices in a cogeneration of high value chemicals and energy process.