In this work, Pd nanocubes and PdNi bimetallic nanocubes were obtained using NaBr as directing agent and polyvinylpyrrolidone as stabilizer in an aqueous reduction method. According to high-resolution transmission electron micrographs (HR-TEM), monometallic Pd nanocubes with sizes of 10 ± 0.5 nm and bimetallic PdNi nanocubes with sizes of 7 ± 1 nm were obtained. X-ray diffractograms displayed crystallographic peaks attributed only to Pd, finding crystalline sizes close to the particle size values. Electrocatalytic evaluation of these materials for the ethylene glycol electro-oxidation reaction (EGOR) was performed varying the KOH and EG concentration, the operating temperature and scan rate. PdNi nanocubes displayed at 1.5 M KOH and 1 M EG a maximum current density (jp) of 110 mA cm-2, while this jp increased 2 times at 50°C. Pd nanocubes displayed a jp of 96 mA cm-2. In terms of onset potentials, both materials presented values of -0.30 ± 0.04 V. Additionally, PdNi nanocubes displayed superior durability.
Figure 1
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