Electrocatalytic Activity of Pd-Based Cathode Catalysts for Direct Methanol Fuel Cells

Palladium-based alloys supported on carbon were successfully synthesized and employed as cathode materials for improved oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) in direct methanol fuel cells (DMFCs). Several instrumental methods were used to investigate the physical properties of the prepared samples. The morphological characterizations exhibit that the alloyed nanoparticles were uniformly distributed on the substrate. The ORR catalytic performances of these Pd-based catalysts were excellent in comparison with the Pd/C catalyst in acidic environments. The results revealed that the Pd-based alloyed materials can be practiced as potentially effective, methanol-tolerant, highly durable, and low-cost replacements for Pt-based samples in DMFCs [1-3].