Electrodeposition of Ternary BiTePd Nanofilm Electrocatalyst Using Surface-Limited Reaction for Direct Ethanol Fuel Cell

Abstract

Herein, we report electro-synthesis of BiTePd using electrochemical atomic layer deposition (E-ALD). Scanning electron microscopy, energy-dispersive spectroscopy, atomic force microscopy, and X-ray diffraction were used to characterize Pd-based thin films' surface morphology and structure composition. BiTePd electrocatalyst exhibits higher electrochemical activity, stability and electron transfer kinetics using cyclic voltammetry, chronoamperometry, and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. The higher peak current and more negative onset potential is observed for ternary (BiTePd) nanofilm electrocatalyst towards ethanol oxidation reaction, according to this order: BiTePd= (1.26 mA; -055 V)> TePd = (0.527 mA; -0.535 V) >BiPd = (0.24 mA; -0.39 V) >Pd (0.13 mA; 0.35 V). Moreover, BiTePd = Rct (2.01kΩ) gave the faster interfacial charge transfer than TePd =2.42 kΩ, BiPd= 3.97 kΩ and Pd = 14 kΩ. BiTePd nanofilm demonstrates promising characteristic features of an active electrocatalyst for a direct ethanol fuel cell.

Electro-Design of Bimetallic PdTe Electrocatalyst for Ethanol Oxidation: Combined Experimental Approach and Ab Initio Density Functional Theory (DFT)—Based Study

“…The results reflect previously reported results [ 31 ]. These findings were consistent, as displayed in Figure S4 and as reported by this group in the literature [ 4 ]. These peaks are parallel to (111), indicating the existence of an epitaxial relationship between the catalyst and the substrate.…”

“…Nanostructured metal chalcogenides have been extensively studied, as they are characterized by fascinating properties that are different from the properties of the bulk counterparts. Transition metal chalcogenide-based tellurides have attracted immense interest in the field of catalysis, energy conversion, storage [ 1 ], and photo-electrocatalysis, as they exhibit high electrical conductivity and can be used in the field of molecular structure catalysis [ 2 , 3 , 4 ]. Among electrocatalysis reactions, ethanol (EtOH) oxidation reaction (EOR) has been a subject of interest, as a high theoretical density (8.01 kWhg −1 ) can be realized [ 5 ].…”