Construction of Pd-Zn dual sites to enhance the performance for ethanol electro-oxidation reaction

Yajun Qiu, Jian Zhang (), Jing Jin, Jiaqiang Sun, Haolin Tang, Qingqing Chen, Zedong Zhang, Wenming Sun (), Ge Meng, Qi Xu, Youqi Zhu, Aijuan Han, Lin Gu, Dingsheng Wang () and Yadong Li
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Yajun Qiu: Tsinghua University
Jian Zhang: Wenzhou University
Jing Jin: Beijing University of Chemical Technology
Jiaqiang Sun: Chinese Academy of Sciences
Haolin Tang: Wuhan University of Technology
Qingqing Chen: Anhui Normal University
Zedong Zhang: Tsinghua University
Wenming Sun: China Agricultural University
Ge Meng: Wenzhou University
Qi Xu: Tsinghua University
Youqi Zhu: Beijing Institute of Technology
Aijuan Han: Beijing University of Chemical Technology
Lin Gu: Chinese Academy of Sciences
Dingsheng Wang: Tsinghua University
Yadong Li: Tsinghua University

Nature Communications, 2021, vol. 12, issue 1, 1-9

Abstract: Abstract Rational design and synthesis of superior electrocatalysts for ethanol oxidation is crucial to practical applications of direct ethanol fuel cells. Here, we report that the construction of Pd-Zn dual sites with well exposure and uniformity can significantly improve the efficiency of ethanol electro-oxidation. Through synthetic method control, Pd-Zn dual sites on intermetallic PdZn nanoparticles, Pd-Pd sites on Pd nanoparticles and individual Pd sites are respectively obtained on the same N-doped carbon coated ZnO support. Compared with Pd-Pd sites and individual Pd sites, Pd-Zn dual sites display much higher activity for ethanol electro-oxidation, exceeding that of commercial Pd/C by a factor of ~24. Further computational studies disclose that Pd-Zn dual sites promote the adsorption of ethanol and hydroxide ion to optimize the electro-oxidation pathway with dramatically reduced energy barriers, leading to the superior activity. This work provides valuable clues for developing high-performance ethanol electro-oxidation catalysts for fuel cells.

Date: 2021
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DOI: 10.1038/s41467-021-25600-9

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