Electrooxidation of ethylene glycol by nanopalladium decorated on cerium (IV) oxide porous support

Electrooxidation of ethylene glycol by nanopalladium decorated on cerium (IV) oxide porous support

Solution combustion synthesis (SCS) was selected as fast and eco-friendly method to synthesis of CeO2. This synthesis was done by two fuels, glycine and urea. The structural morphology of these oxides was reported highly porous and spongy by SEM. Pd nanoparticles were decorated on these supports. FESEM exhibited uniform distribution of Pd nanoparticles on the available surface and in the holes of these two porous supports. Also, Pd particle size on supports was estimated to be lower than 100 nm. The ethylene glycol oxidation process on the prepared electrodes was evaluated using chronoamperometry and cyclic voltammetry techniques. Assessments of CA in the Pd-CeO2Gl electrocatalyst showed a higher charge transfer (QT) compared to the Pd-CeO2Ur electrocatalyst. Turnover number and frequency number were calculated to determine the electrocatalytic efficiency toward electro-oxidation of fuels. In the CV evaluation, both Pd-CeO2Gl and Pd-CeO2Ur electrocatalysts showed high current. In general, selecting the appropriate supports for Pd nanoparticles have been able to improve the uniform distribution of Pd nanoparticles. First of all, porous and spongy structure of supports increase the number of active sites of electrocatalysts. Another criterion is presence of the transition metal (Ce) which with its oxidation and reduction cycle among Ce4+/Ce3+, and oxygen network avoid electrocatalyst from poisoning.

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