Bismuth modified Pd/C as catalysts for hydrogen related reactions

The electrocatalytic activity of bimetallic BiPd catalysts supported on Sibunit carbon towards hydrogen oxidation/evolution reactions (HOR/HER) was studied in a gas diffusion electrode (GDE) setup. Catalysts were synthesized by deposition of Pd on the carbon support, followed by impregnation of Pd/C precursor with Bi(NO(3))(3) solution and reduction in hydrogen. Transmission electron microscopy and local EDX elemental analysis revealed that BiPd/C catalysts contain bimetallic particles with narrow size distribution with maxima at 3.2-4.1 nm. X-ray diffraction evidenced that bimetallic particles are constituted by Pd-Bi solid solution. It was shown that modification of Pd/C by bismuth increases the specific activity of palladium towards HOR/HER by a factor of 3. (C) 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.