Preparation and characterizations of highly dispersed carbon supported PdxPty/C catalysts by a modified citrate reduction method for formic acid electrooxidation

Carbon supported PdxPty/C (atomic ratio x:y from 1:1 to 6:1) have been prepared by a modified citrate reduction method assisted by inorganic stabilizers. Without using high molecular capping agents as stabilizers, the PdxPty/C catalysts are highly dispersed on the carbon support and no particle aggregations are found for the PdxPty/C catalysts. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy reveals either Pt or Pd segregation for the PdxPty/C catalysts depending on Pd/Pt atomic ratio. CO stripping in 0.5 M H2SO4 and repeated formic acid oxidation cyclic voltammetry in 0.5 M HCHO + 0.5 M H2SO4 have been conducted to test out the CO tolerance and stability of the catalysts, respectively. It has been found that, with the increase of Pd/Pt atomic ratio, the CO stripping peak potential increases (less CO tolerant), whereas the catalyst stability towards formic acid oxidation decreases. The as-prepared catalysts reveal excellent mass-normalized formic acid oxidation activity as compared with published results possibly due to high dispersion and the absence of high molecular capping agents.