Investigating the effect of carbon support on palladium-based catalyst towards electro-oxidation of ethylene glycol

Abstract

Palladium-based catalysts serve as promising electrocatalysts for the oxidation of ethylene glycol to produce electrical energy that can be used to address the continuous worldwide energy demand increments along with the depletion of fossil fuels which serve as the main energy source. For optimal catalysts performance, carbon nanotubes and carbon nanodots were investigated as palladium catalyst support materials to address difficulties in oxidizing and breaking the C–C bonds in ethylene glycol, cost of electrocatalyst, and complex reaction mechanism that is restraining rapid development and applications of direct ethylene glycol fuel cells (DEGFC). Utilization of palladium catalysts supported on carbon nanotubes (CNT) and carbon nanodots (CND) as support materials resulted in spontaneous ethylene glycol oxidation. The Pd/CNT catalyst showed greater stability compared to Pd/CND during the oxidation of ethylene glycol, and it is not easily poisoned by carbon monoxide intermediates formed during ethylene glycol oxidation as shown by a slow current decay on chronoamperometry.

Nanoscience teaching and research program in South Africa

“…UJ has a very strong nanochemistry group. Research involves a wide spread of fields including polymer nanocomposites, water remediation, and carbon nanomaterials (Raseruthe et al, 2021). The core emphasis of nano-materials research at the University of Johannesburg's Department of Chemistry revolves around advancing water purification techniques through diverse methodologies.…”

Carbon Shell-Confined Pd-Fe Bimetallic Nanoparticles in NCNTs as Anode Catalysts for Microfluidic Direct Ethylene Glycol Fuel Cells

“…Despite these significant merits, the electrocatalytic activity of bimetallic catalysts toward EGEOR is limited because of their deprived electron mobility channels, fewer accessible electroactive sites, and the modest electrochemically active surface area of aggregated bimetallic structures under harsh electrochemical regimes . Earlier efforts addressed the aforementioned issues with the use of multifunctional carbonaceous materials as scaffolds because of their elevated surface area, large pore size distribution, and conductive skeleton . However, the direct contact of bimetallic nanoparticles in a metal/carbon nanocomposite with an electrolyte can lead to dissolution and aggregation in harsh environments, limiting their catalytic performance and durability under the cycling processes .…”

“…14 Earlier efforts addressed the aforementioned issues with the use of multifunctional carbonaceous materials as scaffolds because of their elevated surface area, large pore size distribution, and conductive skeleton. 15 However, the direct contact of bimetallic nanoparticles in a metal/carbon nanocomposite with an electrolyte can lead to dissolution and aggregation in harsh environments, limiting their catalytic performance and durability under the cycling processes. 16 Accordingly, the encasement of metal nanostructures with the carbon shell is inferred as an expectant solution to avert the above surface distress.…”

Pd/C embedded crosslinked polystyrene fibers as an efficient catalyst for Heck reactions

“…4,5 In order to solve these problems, homogeneous palladium catalysts have been deposited on suitable solid matrices to facilitate their separation, recovery and reuse. [6][7][8] For example, palladium on carbon (Pd/C) catalyst is one of the most favorable commercialized heterogeneous palladium catalysts and widely used in various chemical transformations. 2 However, it is still a significant challenge to explore the solution for the deactivation of Pd/C catalyst upon successive reuses due to the palladium leaching.…”

“…Moreover, the residues of toxic palladium metals and ligands in the final products limit their applications in many fields, such as pharmaceuticals, food additives, cosmetics, and so on 4,5 . In order to solve these problems, homogeneous palladium catalysts have been deposited on suitable solid matrices to facilitate their separation, recovery and reuse 6–8 . For example, palladium on carbon (Pd/C) catalyst is one of the most favorable commercialized heterogeneous palladium catalysts and widely used in various chemical transformations 2 .…”