Binary Pd-Ni Nanoalloy Particles over Carbon Support with Superior Alkaline Formate Fuel Electrooxidation Performance

Formate is the one legitimate carbon-neutral fuel that has the capability of being considered an alternative to alcohol fuels amidst the growing demand for efficient fuel-cell systems. In this manuscript, we demonstrate, for the first time, a class of binary Pd-Ni alloy nanoparticles over two different carbon supports showing exceptional enhancement of the formate oxidation reaction (FOR) performance in alkaline medium, compared to Pd/C. The synergistic effects of Pd and oxophilic Ni along with the electronic structure alteration of Pd induced through alloying resulted in an effective change in its catalytic ability, leading to a 5-time enhancement in the overall current density along with a lower overpotential during formate oxidation compared to Pd/C. The more active Pd catalytic sites of the nanoalloy helped to yield mass activities as high as 4.5 A mg(Pd)(-1) and 7.8 A mg(Pd)(-1) during FOR. The structural and electrochemical analysis justifies the synergistic effects and alterations in the Pd lattice ensuing a superior enhancement of electrochemically active Pd sites.