Low cost efficient Sr(OH)2 promoted Pd/rGO electrocatalyst for direct alcohol fuel cell.

Sr(OH) 2 Pd/rGO nanocrystals supported on reduced graphene oxide (rGO) is presented as high performance electrocatalyst for methanol and ethanol oxidation. The synthesized Sr(OH) 2 Pd/rGO exhibits significantly improved electrocatalytic activity and durability compared with Pd/rGO electrocatalyst. Moreover, the onset potential for methanol and ethanol oxidation was much lower for Sr(OH) 2 Pd/rGO due to the lower resistance as compared with Pd/rGO. This work presented the effect of OH−1 species which are supposed to increase the alcohol oxidation due to efficient removal of the intermediate species. Cyclic voltammetry, chronoamperometry, square wave voltammetry and impedance results demonstrate that Sr(OH) 2 Pd/rGO/rGO catalyst has superior catalytic activity for methanol and ethanol oxidation as compared to Pd/rGO catalyst. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]