Cuupd@Pd/C and Pd-Cu/C Nanocatalysts for Electrochemical Ethanol Oxidation in Alkaline Solution

Nanocatalysts Pd/C and Pd-Cu/C were synthesized by a borohydride reduction method and characterized by thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). In addition, the Pd/C catalyst was decorated by Cuupd in an acid solution with various surface coverages (up to 0.5). The catalysts were electrochemically characterized by cyclic voltammetry (CV) and COads stripping in acid and alkaline solutions. The electrochemically active surface area (ECSA) was estimated from the charge under the CO desorption peak in the alkaline solution and used for determining specific and mass activity for the EOR.