Electrocatalytic Properties of Binary PdSn Nanoparticles for Ethanol Oxidation

Direct ethanol fuel cells are commendable energy conversion devices due to their wide fuel source, safe storage and transportation, and high energy density. The alloyed PdM bimetallic catalyst can catalyze ethanol oxidation with high efficiency. In the present study, the hydrothermal synthesis of alloyed PdSn nanoparticles was performed in three different solvents with the help of cetyltrimethylammonium bromide and l-AA. The experimental data show that the prepared PdSn nanoparticles exhibit good catalytic activity, which is attributed to their optimized electronic structure. Compared with Pd/C (603 mA·mg^-1), PdSn-NMP, PdSn-MEA, and PdSn-DMF exhibited current densities of 1072, 1521, and 1884 mA·mg^-1, respectively, in the cyclic voltammetry of ethanol oxidation. PdSn-DMF exhibits both a low electron transfer barrier and superior catalytic stability, characteristics that are tightly linked to the optimization of its coordination environment and the shift of the d-band center. This work will broaden the pathway to develop Pd-based nanostructures with high electrocatalytic performance through rational design and synthesis.