Facile one-step synthesis of PdPb nanochains for high-performance electrocatalytic ethanol oxidation

The widespread application of direct ethanol fuel cells is hampered due to the low activity, high cost and poor operation durability of electrocatalysts for ethanol oxidation reaction (EOR). Herein, we report a one-pot synthetic method to synthesize PdPb3 nanochains with well-defined shape, size and composition via a solution-phase reduction method. The morphology, composition distribution and structure characteristics of PdPb3 nanochains were investigated by transmission electron microscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction. Thanks to the unique structure, the as-obtained PdPb3 nanochains can manifest much higher mass activity (2523 mA·mg−1) and higher operation durability than commercial Pd/C (1272 mA·mg−1) during the EOR measurements. More importantly, further CO-stripping measurements indicate that the incorporation of Pb species could favor the oxidative removal of CO intermediates on the Pd electrode at the negative potential and enhance the EOR activity and stability, making it possible to develop highly active and durable electrocatalysts.