Investigation of the electrochemical activity of paladium-carbon nanotubes nanocomposite toward methanol oxidation in fuel cells and comparing it with the platinium one

Subject Areas :

Roghayeh Khaleghianmoghadam ¹ ( Assistant professor, Esfarayen University of technology, Esfarayen, Khorasan Shomali, Iran )

Received: 2017-01-02 Accepted : 2017-07-15 Published : 2017-05-22

Keywords: Methanol, Palladium, Platinum, Carbon nano-tubes, Electrooxidation,

Abstract :

In this study, the nanocomposite of palladium-carbon nanotubes-chitosan was synthesized and characterized by XRD and TEM techniques. The synthesized nanocomposite was used for the modification of glassy carbon electrods surfaces. Using cyclic voltammetry (CV) technique, the electrochemical activity of modified electrode (GC/PdNPs-MWCNTs-CH) toward methanol oxidation was investigted in a solution of 0.5 M sodium hydroxide and 1.0 M methanol. The results revealed that the synthesized nanocomposite shows a high catalytic activity toward methanol oxidation and thus has an efficiency for use as anode for the methanol fuel cells. The effects of different parameters such as methanol and electrolyte concentrations, potential range, and potential scan reate on the anodic current density and the peak potential of methanol oxidation were also investigted. Moreover, comparing the electrochemical activity of the palladiun nanocatalyst for methanol oxidation with that of the platinum-type, it was concluded that the former has a considerable activity closed to the platinum one. Therefore, it coulde be a souitable substituer for platinum in the methonl oxidation process. This substitution, also reduces the catalyst price.

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