Abstract

In the present study, a new concept of fabrication, characterization, and performance of Pd–Ir–M ternary nanoparticles supported on cellulose based carbon (CC) was proposed with a notion to enhance the electrocatalytic oxidation of hydrogen peroxide. The combination of monometallic Pd/CC, bimetallic Pd–Ir/CC, and tri-metallic Pd–Ir–M/CC (M = Ni, Mo and Rh) nanoparticles were synthesized by the chemical reduction method assisted by ultrasonication. X-Ray diffraction (XRD), energy dispersive X-Ray spectroscopy (EDX), transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) were used for the catalyst characterization. The catalytic activities of electrocatalysts were measured in half-cell experiments using chronoamperometry (CA), CO stripping voltammetry, and cyclic voltammetry (CV). Based on half-cell experiments, electrochemical results showed that tri-metallic Pd–Ir–M nanoparticles display better catalytic activity at room temperature towards hydrogen peroxide oxidation as compared to bimetallic and monometallic catalysts. Based on the experiments carried out on MLSPBFC, Pd–Ir–Ni/CC displayed a better catalytic activity than all other catalysts synthesized.

Key words: Sodium perborate, Fuel cell, Hydrogen peroxide, Cellulose based carbon, trimetallic catalyst, Pd-Ir-M