Electrocatalytic performance impact of various bimetallic Pt-Pd alloy atomic ratio in robust ternary nanocomposite electrocatalyst toward boosting of methanol electrooxidation reaction

Abstract

The low-loading of precious platinum (Pt) metal electrocatalysts development by alloying with less expensive of earth-abundant transition metals exhibiting high electrocatalytic activity and durability performance towards methanol oxidation reaction (MOR) for new generation sustainability of direct methanol fuel cell (DMFC) application has aroused increasing consideration. In this typical study, the as-prepared ternary nanocomposite electrocatalysts with controllable composition of the bimetallic Pt-Pd alloy nanoparticles (NPs) in acidic media were synthesized through a facile one-step hydrothermal-assisted formic acid reduction reaction. The main study on the critical impact of the bimetallic Ptx-Pdy alloy atomic ratio (x-y = 1:1, 2:3, 3:7, 1:4, 1:9) in the as-prepared ternary RGO/bimetallic Ptx-Pdy alloy/0.90CeO2 nanocomposite electrocatalyst upon its suitability as anode electrocatalyst towards the electrocatalytic performance of MOR was thoroughly evaluated at constant operating conditions. The results clearly demonstrated that the compositions of the bimetallic Pt-Pd alloy NPs can be easily adjusted by varying the Ptx-Pdy alloy atomic ratio that can contribute to the significant impact on the electrocatalytic activity of MOR in DMFC. Upon increase in the composition of Pd from the bimetallic Pt-Pd alloy atomic ratio of 1:1 to 2:3 led to increased electrocatalytic activity, long-term stability, durability cycles and charge transfer resistance with respect to the MOR. However, it was continuously decrease with further increase of the Pd proportion in the Pt-Pd alloy NPs atomic ratio of 3:7 to 1:9. The maximum peak current density of the MOR (39.83 mA cm-2) was obtained in the present research work for the as-synthesized ternary nanocomposite electrocatalyst with the bimetallic Pt-Pd alloy atomic ratio of 2:3. The as-synthesized ternary nanocomposite electrocatalyst with low noble Pt content through the alloying strategy could promotes practically employed as anode electrocatalyst under acidic media in DMFC application.